Texas Sun Devils celebrate release of ASU collegiate license plates

David Offutt '08 B.S.E. of Austin
June 17, 2013

Arizona State University’s official collegiate license plate, sponsored by the ASU Alumni Association, has broken first-day sales records in the Lone Star State for Texas plates featuring an Arizona theme. The state’s new ASU “Sparky” license plate features the university’s mascot, Sparky the Sun Devil, on an all-gold background with a white strip at the bottom bearing the words “ASU Sun Devils.”

Since the launch of the Sparky plate, 140 have been sold, with 98 plates sold on the first day alone. Alumna Andrea Cunningham, who purchased a plate on March 5, won a pair of tickets to ASU’s Oct. 5 football game against Notre Dame in Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Her name was drawn at random to receive the prize from all those who purchased a Sparky license plate on the first day.

Five Sun Devil fans who registered their interest in the plates prior to the them going on sale were selected at random and received a complimentary Sparky license plate through the third-party vendor MyPlates.com: David Minor, Judas Mireles, Catherine Place, Sierra Roddey and John Timm.

Another contest hosted to celebrate the new Sparky plates in Texas automatically entered all purchasers of personalized ASU plates in Texas between March 5 and April 30 into a contest for “most creative plate,” as judged by the Alumni Association. Austin resident David Offutt had the winning entry with the personalized plate "AZ ST8," and received a check reimbursing him for the purchase price of the plate. Additional contests for Sun Devils who purchase plates will be announced throughout 2013.

The introduction of the plates in Texas provide alumni and other ASU enthusiasts with another visible way to show their support for ASU, according to Christine K. Wilkinson, president of the ASU Alumni Association.

"We have more than 10,000 alumni living in Texas, and many more Sun Devil fans, so this newest collegiate license plate allows them to reconnect with their alma mater and proudly display to others that they are supporters of Arizona State University," said Wilkinson.

The ASU license plate in Texas is officially licensed by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and is available by visiting http://myplates.com/go/asu.