Sun Devil Spotlight: The Vrba family

For the Vrba family, being a Sun Devil is a family affair. Learn more about why they love being engaged as an ASU family.

Family facts

Hailing from Geneva, a small city west of Chicago, the Vrba family owns and operates a nursing home and rehabilitation center called Burgess Square health care center in Westmont, Illinois. John Vrba owns and operates Jordan Health Care Group, a health care consulting business, and is an active board member of The Live Like John Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and other health organizations. Christina  Vrba volunteers for the same foundation and is very active in the community. In addition, the Sun Devil parents have been part of the Leadership Council for the Sun Devil Family Association since fall 2018.

Tell us about your Sun Devil

Johnny Vrba is loving being a Sun Devil, majoring in business management in the W. P. Carey School of Business on the Tempe campus. His favorite moment of the year was portraying a green alien for the Sun Devils’ Curtain of the Distraction, during the ASU Men’s Basketball team’s first victory over University of Arizona since 2015.

Why ASU?

The choice was quite easy for Johnny. He had written out a pros vs. cons list for every college that he applied to. ASU was the only college that he had no “cons” to list. So when people ask him, “why ASU?,” he responds with, “why NOT ASU?” There are excellent colleges across the country, but Johnny didn’t want to just go to any college in any state. He especially wanted to get out of the Midwest region to experience college life away from home at a large public university with an abundance of beautiful scenery, sunshine, educational resources, activities and sports. He is a passionate, energetic kid who loves to be outdoors and is always ready for the next adventure. ASU is the place to be for this type of college experience.

Favorite things about ASU?

The stunningly gorgeous views from “A” Mountain and Palm Walk and the positive energy around campus.

Advice for other ASU families

Our advice would be to stay involved with your Sun Devil and ASU as much as possible, and to visit, FaceTime and text often. Listen intently to your Sun Devil as he matures into a young adult and guide him, but try to leave the “high school helicopter parenting style” behind. Your new Sun Devil will figure it all out, and your role as parent has now officially evolved to a whole different level.

Spend an uninterrupted casual day walking campus from end to end, taking in all it has to offer. Try and catch as many sporting events and theatrical events as you can. Don’t miss one minute of Family Weekend.