Michael Volkert, ’12 BA, ’21 MLS

My Arizona State University journey goes back to the early 2000s when I first enrolled at ASU West campus pursuing a degree in secondary education. My path to finishing was delayed following the attacks on 9/11 as I felt a calling to serve. I enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2003 and so my ASU path was diverted until I was selected for an Army program to transition from an enlisted Soldier to an Army officer. This brought about my second journey to ASU in 2010 where I attended main campus as an ASU Army ROTC cadet. I commissioned as an aviation officer and completed my bachelor’s degree in history in 2012. The third leg of my ASU journey ended with achieving a master’s degree in sports, law and business in 2021. 

It was on “A” Mountain in 2001 where I took the leap and proposed by painting “Tifanie, will you marry me?” on the A — a moment that captured the spirit of our Sun Devil love story. Personally, maroon and gold runs deep in my family as my sister, wife and oldest son are proud alums and my daughter is set to begin her ASU journey in August 2025.