Students see success thanks to Sun Devil Giving Day

When it’s time to give back to Arizona State University, Brian Martin doesn’t let more than 5,000 miles and the Atlantic Ocean stand in his way.

Two years ago, Martin checked his email at home in Aviano, Italy when he saw a newsletter about Sun Devil Giving Day and decided to donate.

“I got online right away,” Martin said. “Pretty soon after I made the donation I realized, oh, I’m outside the window … I did it eight hours too early.”

Luckily, the time snafu was fixed and his gift counted toward the day’s total donations. He plans to give again this year, but he’ll wait until the evening of March 18 to make sure the time zones line up.

With the fourth-annual Sun Devil Giving Day just around the corner, Martin is one of thousands of Sun Devils — including alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students and fans — who come together to support the university’s education initiatives and research ventures with a goal of solving some of the most pressing concerns facing society today.

Last year, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences led the leaderboard with the most donations across the university. All the funds raised were instrumental in the academic success of students, the research discoveries of faculty and the efficacy of educational programs like the ASU Modeling Instruction program through the Department of Physics.

“It’s a fantastic program,” said Martin, a teacher for the United States Department of Defense at Aviano Air Force Base who received training in high school physics teaching at ASU. “I was able to really ramp up my teaching … and it’s made me a much more effective teacher.”

Martin said he hopes the gift he gave helps the program continue because there’s so few educational programs for secondary science teachers, particularly in physics, with so many years of empirical data proving its worth.

“I’m so impressed with the high quality, the professionalism and the skills of the people involved in the ASU Modeling Instruction program,” he said. “So I gave back in a very small way compared to what I’ve gotten out of it.”

Thanks to the funds received from generous donors like Martin on Sun Devil Giving Day, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was also able to support eight participants in the fall 2016 McCain Institute Policy Design Studio and Internship program where students live and intern in Washington, D.C. for a semester.

“This funding has provided me the opportunities to live, learn and grow as both a student and future leader in our nation’s capital,” said David Campbell, a political science major and philosophy minor.

Campbell worked directly with U.S. ambassadors, military generals and executive agents at the highest levels of government such as the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Department of Veteran Affairs throughout the internship program.  

“Without having received this scholarship I may not have been capable of pursuing this wonderful opportunity. … [which] has instilled in me an understanding that leadership skills are of the utmost importance in one’s ability to be successful,” Campbell said.

As Sun Devil Giving Day fast approaches, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is eager to raise even more funds that will give every student the opportunity to succeed academically and beyond.

Get ready to support the college and university on Sun Devil Giving Day, March 18.