The ASU Foundation was among 71 Arizona nonprofit organizations to receive surprise grants from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.

• Read more about Piper Trust backs ASU initiatives with $7.1 million in surprise grants

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2021 graduates.

Tiffany Thornhill remembers deciding to pursue degrees in the fields that she did — social work as an undergraduate and social work and public administration as a concurrent graduate student — at two key moments in her life.

• Read more about First in social work, then in public administration, ASU grad was struck by desire to serve those who struggle

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2021 graduates.

Stephanie Pham says she never doubted her decision to take six years off from school and work to be a full-time caregiver to her parents, each of whom had been diagnosed with different forms of cancer. When she enrolled at ASU as an undergraduate, at first the student from Temecula, California, felt alone.

• Read more about Outstanding Graduate finds community at ASU after caring for ill parents for six years

For ASU faculty, milestone employment anniversaries – those numbers of years ending in “0” or “5” – provide special opportunities to reflect on time teaching, researching, learning and contributing toward helping students find their place to work on making a better world.

• Read more about Garden of Dreams still has longtime professor inspired by what SCRD students, community accomplished there nearly a decade ago

Donors gave about $70 million over the past 10 years to expand Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions’ programs, support its students, increase its research impact and drive its community service.

• Read more about Donations to Watts College during Campaign ASU 2020 total about $70 million, surpassing goal of $60 million

An endowment from the family of Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions Dean Jonathan Koppell honors the memory of his grandmothers and will help support students from the college seeking careers that address child well-being, particularly among refugee communities.

• Read more about Watts College Dean Koppell and family endow scholarship fund in the names of his grandmothers

Arizona State University is conducting coronavirus testing for a vulnerable population — those who work with people experiencing homelessness — with help from a $45,000 grant from the BHHS Legacy Foundation.

The testing is funded as a result of the generous support of the BHHS Legacy Foundation, an Arizona charitable organization whose philanthropic mission is to enhance the quality of life and health of those it serves.

• Read more about Grant funds coronavirus testing for those working closely with individuals experiencing homelessness

• Read more about ASU professor, family fund congressional internships for public affairs students

• Read more about Donors to ASU's Bridging Success program help students overcome food insecurity