ASU Alumni — Founders’ Day
Missy M. Farr-Kaye — Alumni Achievement Award
Founders’ Day is Arizona State University’s signature event in recognition of the university founders, leaders of the effort to create an institution that has become the nation’s largest public research university and holds the unique distinction of being ranked №1 in innovation for three consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. Founders’ Day showcases ASU faculty, alumni and philanthropists who embody the pioneering spirit of those who helped establish the university, and exemplify how the university continues to evolve into a New American University, an educational institution that advances research, champions discovery of public value and assumes fundamental responsibility for the communities it serves.
Arizona State University annually celebrates the vision and contributions of the founders of the institution. This signature event has taken place since 1964 and is a tradition known as Founders’ Day. ASU faculty, staff, alumni and advocates who exemplify the pioneering and innovative spirit of ASU’s founders are honored with excellence-in-achievement awards at Founders’ Day.
Founders’ Day is celebrated each year in February or March to coincide with the first day of classroom instruction at the original Territorial Normal School at Tempe on Feb. 8, 1886.
Missy M. Farr-Kaye
Head coach, ASU women’s golf
Arizona State University: ’90 BS communication
Arizona State University women’s golf head coach Missy Farr-Kaye is the 2018 recipient of the ASU Founders’ Day Alumni Achievement Award.
For 16 years a Sun Devils women’s golf coach — she is now into her third as head of the storied program — her leadership résumé is the stuff of legends. She mastered a unique trifecta 2017, winning her third NCAA national championship as a Devil — as a player in 1990, as an assistant coach in 2009, as head coach in 2017.
Since beginning her coaching career at ASU, Farr-Kaye’s Sun Devil golfers have accomplished the following:
- 2 NCAA National Team Championships: 2009, 2017
- 2 Pac-10 Conference Team Championships: 2007, 2009
- NCAA Individual Champions Azahara Munoz, 2008; Monica Vaughn, 2017
- 30 Tournament team titles
- 16 Golfers named to a total of 20 All-American teams
- 45 All-Conference honorees, including 24 first team selections
- 4 Pac-12 Golfers of the Year
- 44 WGCA/NGCA Academic All-Americans
- Three NGCA/WGCA Freshmen of the Year
Her 2017 national championship team marked ASU’s U.S.-best eighth such title, and she was named Golf Pride Grips WGCA National Coach of the Year, Golfweek National Coach of the Year, West Region Coach of the Year, and Pac-12 Coach of the Year. In the classroom, her student-athletes have earned a conference-leading four Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year selections.
“This is my dream job in every sense of the word,” says Coach Farr-Kaye. “I grew up playing junior golf at Papago Golf Course. I graduated from Arizona State and won an NCAA title under Linda Vollstedt. To become the head women’s golf coach of my alma mater is the pinnacle of my career.”
Learn more about Founders’ Day here.
