While Oakland Raider training camp is still a few weeks away, a former ASU quarterback donned black and silver on Monday night in his last official appearance as a Sun Devil.
Andrew Walter, ASU's all-time passing leader, returned to Tempe to receive one final accolade, a Sparky Award for Male Athlete of the Year.
"I don't know how the other guys didn't win," Walter said as he accepted the award before a crowded Wells Fargo Arena. "If I could just say to all the student-athletes, enjoy your time here because it goes fast."
Walter was one of a dozen student-athletes who received awards from the ASU Athletic Department honoring academic, athletic leadership and service excellence.
Senior Associate Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield Clubb said the department has gone to great lengths to make the ceremony as elegant as possible.
"This is the second year that we have done it, and it is a huge production," Hatfield Clubb said. "It's black tie for anyone who sits on the floor."
While the coaches decide which three student-athletes would be nominated for each category, every student-athlete and faculty member voted on the final award recipient.
Legendary ASU women's golf coach Linda Vollstedt was honored with a lifetime achievement Sparky for coaching six national championship squads from 1981 to 2001.
Freshman swimmer Caitlin Andrew, the Pac-10 champion in the 100-yard butterfly and sophomore tight end Zach Miller won rookie of the year Sparky's.
The unsung hero Sparky's were awarded to women's swimming senior Florencia Szigeti and junior offensive lineman Grayling Love for their volunteer work in the community.
ASU women's basketball guard Betsy Boardman and distance runner Juan Reyes were awarded golden hearts, which commend senior athletes who have overcome adversity to return to the field of play.
The award for Scholar of the Year went to gymnastics senior Kari Muth and men's golf junior Alejandro Canizares, who both amassed 3.96 GPA's in their time at ASU.
After winning the national championship in the outdoor track heptathlon and playing as a member of the Sun Devil women's Sweet Sixteen basketball team, Jacquelyn Johnson was honored as the Female Athlete of the Year.
Capping off the evening were the Heather Farr and the Dr. Jim Brock awards for the female and male Sun Devils who excelled in all facets as student-athletes.
Women's basketball senior Kylan Loney said being a college athlete is not always about the sport you play and the things you do in athletics. Loney accepted the award named after the former ASU golf great.
Four-time NCAA diving champion junior Joona Puhakka received the Brock award for the second straight season and gave credit to his coach Mark Bradshaw.
Reach the reporter at mark.saxon@asu.edu.
