Five faculty members of the College of Design were awarded "Athena Faculty of the Year" honors at the year-end banquet. Pictured (left to right): Jose Bernardi, Jacques Giard, and William Heywood. Diane Bender and Max Underwood also received awards for their dedication to design education.

Outstanding community leaders were invited to attend a special day to wind-up for next year's leadership roles, unwind after an involved semester of studio work and study, and overcome personal fears in extremely windy conditions. Athena students and staff members working with the program attended a Challenge Course for team-building and fun in the great outdoors.

Industrial design student and next year Paraprofessional Catherine Gerard shares,

"I knew I was going to do it, I just didn't know it was going to be so challenging. I looked up at the wooden pole sticking out of the ground, it suddenly looked a lot taller after my harness was locked to the rope. Carina was already up there waiting for me. I put one foot onto the first peg then grabbed for the next. I made it about 10 feet up the pole when I started questioning what I was doing. Once I made it to the top, I was absolutely terrified. I had a death grip around the pole and I did not want to let go. But Carina urged me off of it. I held on to her for dear life. I couldn't look down. I could only stare straight across from me and curse under my breath. I took one step at a time, Carina told me where to put my feet (of course her laughing didn't really help). After a few minutes and 25 mph winds, we finally made it across. I felt a sense of accomplishment, like I had never felt before. I had done something I thought was impossible. All I needed was a little coaching from my friends."

"The challenge course was an amazingly fun time spent with new people I was able to get to know better.  It didn't feel like learning at the time because of the games we got to play, but at the end of the day, I think we all got something out of the day." Carina Clark, second year Interior design student

Leadership is an important part of Athena, and the students showed their abilities.

"I really thought the faculty dinner was awesome. It gave me tons to think about and got me motivated about my major and future. This was definitely the best thing I have taken part in during Athena. It was just so much fun to pick at a professor's brain." Derek Cardinale, Urban Planning, on his experience dining with Laurel Arndt

"The greatest thing I took away from having dinner with Jose was that he was so personal, he gave reassuring advice about upper division and made himself available for portfolio reviews and such.  I know for me I do stress about applying, and after having dinner with him, I honestly felt at ease." Maria Miller, Interior Design, on her experience dining with Jose Bernardi

Athena students traveled to the Red Rock State Park in Sedona, AZ to work on an important design skill--sketching. This is just one of the sketching trips that students can participate in.

Urban Planning student Michaela Shirley reflected, "Enjoying the clean mountain air and breeze was awesome, at any moment it was perfect for you to sit down and sketch because the lighting, setting, and timing of the natural landscape was inevitable."

Every year the Athena community enters a float in the ASU Homecoming parade. This is a community endeavor that harnesses the creative powers of Athena.

The Athena Peer Mentors programmed a "sweet" event for all students in the community. The event featured slip-n-slides and ice cream in the McClintock courtyard. It was great to take a break from studying on a hot afternoon.

Students traveled to the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson, AZ to get a feel for the natural environment of the desert after living on campus for a month. They practiced their sketching and noticed the design of the museum--landscape, architecture, graphic, and more.

Athena students take a 1-credit class to acclimate to ASU's design culture. The purpose to help students adapt quickly to life in the Athena community and be successful in making meaningful connections with peers, faculty, and working professionals in the design and architecture fields.