U Devils celebrate ASU Alumni Association involvement

There are Sun Devils, and then there are Sun Devils. Some alumni love ASU so much that they return as a faculty or staff member. And some employees come to bleed maroon and gold, even if they received their education elsewhere.

The ASU Alumni Association formed the U Devils group last year to recognize university employees who have joined the association. Christine Wilkinson, the alumni association’s president, says there has been a 70 percent increase in the number of employees who were association members since the U Devils campaign began.

“Employees who are also alumni association members have a deep commitment to ASU,” she says. “We were thrilled with the response to the formation of the group last year and want to continue celebrating that connection, as well as continue to find ways to recognize this group of Sun Devils who are so critical to the success of ASU’s mission.”

The U Devils group is open to all employees who join the association, regardless of ASU alumni status. This year, the appreciation month events will kick off with an after-work mixer from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., April 10, at Old Main. All employees who are ASU Alumni Association members are welcome to attend. The mixer will feature remarks from Wilkinson, prize drawings, an appetizer buffet and beverages.

The rest of April will be filled with appreciation-themed events. The week of April 14 will feature events for employees at the West, Downtown and Polytechnic campuses, and U Devils members will be eligible to receive complimentary tickets to the April 20 baseball game pitting the ASU Sun Devils against the College World Series defending champion, Oregon State University. The tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The fun continues April 23, when employee-members are invited to an “Escape the Madness” picnic from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Old Main lawn. The month of U Devils events concludes April 30 with a “U Lucky Devil” drawing. Employees who enter the contest could win a two-night stay at the Westin San Diego, among other valuable prizes.

More special features for U Devils who want to spread the maroon-and-gold spirit are incentives offered to members who recruit their co-workers into the ASU Alumni Association fold. If a U Devils member is able to recruit two new employees into joining the association, he or she receives an exclusive U Devils polo shirt or a maroon-and-gold umbrella. U Devils who encourage three new members to join the association will be invited to a special May 7 tea at the University Club.

To join the ASU Alumni Association at the special employee rate ($25 annual/$300 life) and participate in the U Devils events, visit the Web site www.asu.edu/alumni/membership/join.shtml. Employees can use payroll deduction to pay for their life membership; the membership fee will be deducted from their pay over the course of one year.