Keeping it in the family: Mother-daughter spirit captains share ASU pride

Editor’s Note: This Saturday is Faculty-Staff Appreciation Night in Sun Devil Stadium, where the Sun Devils will take on the University of Utah. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Come before the game for the first-ever faculty-staff tailgate – more than 150 complimentary meals will be served to faculty and staff on a first-registered, first-served basis.

When your own daughter describes your Sun Devil spirit as “legendary,” you know you’re doing something right.

According to Anna Wales, who works as special events manager for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, she was a spirit captain before the program even existed.

“But I officially signed up as soon as we started the program,” Wales says. “There is nothing better than being able to share my enthusiasm with everyone. I love being a Sun Devil – and sharing that excitement with students, faculty, staff and the community is so much fun. [This role] allows all of us a chance to share our Sun Devil pride.”

She says her “fingers are permanently placed in a pitchfork,” and that even her "out of office" messages read: “GO DEVILS!”

As spirit captain, Wales keeps everyone in her area informed about opportunities to support the Sun Devils. Spirit activities include such things as decorating their front office in the Fulton Center for ASU's homecoming, as well as coming together for service activities.

“We will be doing a food drive through the months of November and December, as well as collecting toys for the ASU Police Toy Drive," Wales says. "What better way to show our Sun Devil spirit than through doing community service?”

Probably the most important person Wales has imparted her Sun Devil spirit upon is her daughter, Meghan Remington.

Remington, who works as an event coordinator with the ASU Foundation, was raised a Sun Devil and went on to not only attend ASU, but march with the Sun Devil Marching Band up until she graduated in 2009.

“After graduating and finding myself working for the ASU Foundation, I was eager to find an opportunity to continue promoting spirit within the Sun Devil community," Remington says.

Like her mother, Remington became a spirit captain for her department, and she takes her role seriously.

“As a spirit captain, my duties include helping to develop a sense of camaraderie among ASU employees, spreading the word about opportunities to attend ASU athletics events, and promoting spirit within my workplace.”

“Annually, we host a back-to-school breakfast, complete with ASU trivia and pom-pom laden tables,” Remington adds.

That's not all. As spirit captain, Remington distributes posters and other ASU goodies to her colleagues to encourage a Sun Devil spirited workspace. Recently, the office participated in a hidden Sparky competition, where the first person to find Sparky – hidden somewhere in the building – won a prize. Additionally, Remington holds raffle drawings for those who wear gold on Friday, and informs her coworkers of discounts for football tickets.

“Overall, I just love being a Spirit Captain,” she says. “It’s such a great opportunity to engage with ASU as an employee, whether you’re an alum or not, and I love that we have such a positive initiative working to create a greater sense of camaraderie among staff.

“It only made sense that [my mother] would raise me to follow in her footsteps,” she says.

ASU is thankful that she did, because this mother-daughter spirit captain duo is, indeed, legendary.