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Profiles

Bruce Bonecutter

Bruce Bonecutter

Bruce Bonecutter (’71) arrives at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center every day to check to see which of the 300 youth at the facility are facing a crisis.
Dana Benson

Dana Benson

As a student at Michigan State University, Dana Benson (’10) performed in several theater productions, but one role stood out. She played a character based…
Alyssa Harvey Dawson

Alyssa Harvey Dawson

Alyssa Harvey Dawson (’91) likes to analyze problems and find solutions. These are skills she honed at Michigan State University studying journalism, then as a…
Sara Denbo

Sara Denbo

Sara Denbo is an Honors College member majoring in astrophysics. Her research as an undergrad is conducted in MSU's Cyclotron. She's also president of the State Swing Society on campus.
Nada Zohdy

Nada Zohdy

It began for Nada Zohy ('11) at Michigan State University when she worked with people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds to form the Peace Over Prejudice campaign.
Bob Rietz

Robert Rietz

Lasting impression leads alumnus to help in development of new MSU major.
Tiffany Pupa

Tiffany Pupa

Tiffany Pupa was going on a break at about 3 a.m. She turned around to the tent she just left to see the dark of night around her.
Photo of Jeanne Wald standing behind a podium bearing the MSU seal wearing a white shirt with a lily plant and glass vase with candle next to the podium

Jeanne Wald

There’s a light knock on Jeanne Wald’s office door. She opens it to be greeted by a smiling postdoc stopping by to thank her for…
Sa Li

Sa Li

Sa Li is an Honors College senior majoring in mathematics and an international student from China. During her time at MSU, Li has tutored high school students, participated in a national honor fraternity and was a member of the 2015 MSU Homecoming Court.
Gwen and Victor Paulson

Gwen Paulson

After receiving a full-ride scholarship to MSU, Gwen (nee Victor) Paulson, ’66, had hoped one day she’d be able to fund a four-year scholarship for…
Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson

Honors College student Joe Johnson was recognized with the Scholar-Athlete Award - given to athletes with the highest grade-point average on their team. Beyond school…
Janice Mendoza

Janice Mendoza

Janice Mendoza applied to 12 universities across the state as a high school senior living in Hazel Park, Michigan. “I visited other college campuses in…
Decorative image of Natalie Phillips smiling wearing glasses in front of an award plaque for Michigan State University Distinguished Contributions to Honors Students listing previous winners

Natalie Philips

The syllabus for Natalie Phillips’ honors interdisciplinary course “Cognitive Science and the Literary History of Mind” (ENG 492H) includes an 18th Century novel, modern neuroscience…
Henry Ng

Henry Ng

Alumnus opens Ohio's only clinic specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) patients
Allison Leotta

Allison Leotta

Alumna Allison Leotta visited mid-Michigan for her 4th book tour in May, promoting her latest book, A Good Killing. Leotta spoke with HConnections Managing Editor Stephanie Cepak…
Stavoe family at graduation

Stavoe Family

Chuck Stavoe and his wife, Laurie Horiszny, reflect fondly on their years at MSU, but when asked whether their Honors College experience differed from that…
Claire Morrison

Claire Morrison

Claire Morrison is an Honors College senior majoring in physical science and secondary education. Her Professorial Assistantship (PA) as a first-year student led to her working as a research intern for the CREATE for STEM Institute on K-12 science education.
Cervantes Barann

Becky Barann and Troy Cervantes

Becky Barann and Troy Cervantes are Honors College seniors and members of the Spartan Marching Band. They've held leadership positions in the band, including serving as president (Barann) and vice president (Cervantes).
John Waller

John Waller

“I’m about to lecture them on the importance of getting a backpack,” Associate Professor John Waller said as he points to a black hiking backpack…
Vinay Prasad

Vinay Prasad

Doctors have to make a lot of important decisions every day. They recommend a certain type of hormone therapy for patients, a costly treatment cycle…
Beryl Johnson

Baryl Johnson

Beryl (Benschop) Johnson (′64) and husband Edward spent their 49th anniversary at the same place they had their first kiss—Michigan State University. The two traveled…
Lindsay Tigue

Lindsay Tigue

By Stephanie Cepak I’m sitting with Iowa Poetry Prize winner Lindsay Tigue in Espresso Royale on Grand River Avenue. The coffee machine is steaming away…
Patrick Vaughan

Patrick Vaughan

Scholarship supports student's research on bone fractures.
Danielle Grace

Danielle Grace

For Danielle Grace, visiting Japan was not just one more thing to cross off her bucket list – it was a cross-cultural experience that broadened…
Marisa Hamel and Kathleen McLain

Marisa Hamel and Kathleen McLain

There are lots of steps to take when it comes to creating a museum exhibit – let alone two museum exhibits – just ask journalism…
Ely Hsu

Ely Hsu

Working alongside a professor, Ely Hsu manufactures tool wear and analyzes it as a mechanical engineering and supply chain management double-major.
Ben Baldwin

Ben Baldwin

Ben Baldwin immersed himself in all things music at MSU.
William Davie

William Davie

Physiology student William Davie conducted service projects abroad and did research at the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station.
Melissa Bailey

Melissa Bailey

With the tooth from a Tyrannosaurus rex in hand, Honors College alumna Melissa Bailey (‘01) was walking down the halls of the Washington State Legislature…
Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan

Show business brings out Chris Ryan's creative side. The marketing major keeps busy with stand-up comedy.
Elaine Chu

Elaine Chu

Mummies, bones and human remains were never the side of anthropology Honors College senior Elaine Chu had envisioned for herself — not until seeing them…
Brian Batayeh

Brian Batayeh

Brian Batayeh interned in South Africa and worked with youth on projects effecting their community.
Jill Kolongowski

Jill Kolongowski

By: Clare Wismer Picture the first time you ever opened a Harry Potter book. Feelings of being captivated by adventure on each page, not being…
Roger Rama

Roger Rama

Roger Rama came to Michigan State University knowing he wanted to do something with business, but he wasn’t exactly sure what. Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin,…
Jen Orlando

Jen Orlando

One might say I have an affinity for Michigan State. I grew up in mid Michigan, my family members attended the university, I received my…
Matthew Suandi

Matthew Suandi

By Clare Wismer While most 18-year-olds are receiving their high school diplomas, Honors College student Matthew Suandi instead earned his Michigan State University degrees in…
Barb Stone-Reetz

Barb Stone Reetz

Barb Stone Reetz exemplifies how a person's own talent and motivation, coupled with course flexibility and academic rigor during college, can prepare a student for a career full of unknowns.
Jadel Hughes-Davis

Jadel Hughes-Davis

Jadel Hughes Davis is an Honors College student majoring in chemical engineering. Her love for biology and fashion have her eyeing a career in the personal care industry.
Cleveland Thrasher

Cleveland Thrasher

As a child, Cleveland Thrasher (’09) liked to visit his godfather, John Smith, who at the time was a designer for General Motors. Thrasher often…
Chris Bone

Chris Bone

A stamp of Justin S. Morrill’s image hanging in a congressional hearing room was a recent reminder of Chris Bone’s (’79) time at Michigan State…
Jaime Racalla

Jaime Racalla

As a child, the John Ball Zoo was one of Jaime Racalla’s (’10) favorite places. She volunteered there as a teenager. Then as a student…
Justin Kuxhaus

Justin Kuxhaus

After an interview with Boeing, Justin Kuxhaus (’05) was at the airport and about to fly back to Michigan when he was asked to return…
Kaavya Ramesh

Kaavya Ramesh

Kaavya Ramesh (’14) was always searching for information to craft her arguments as a member of the Michigan State University debate team, and like her…
Jeremiah Stein

Jeremiah Eaton

Can the introduction of a small animal predator curtail the spread of Lyme Disease in humans? Honors College senior Jeremiah Eaton spent the summer in…
Jasmine Jordan

Jasmine Jordan

Jasmine Jordan, a 2021 graduate from the College of Social Science, has been named a Gates Cambridge Scholar for the second time. In fall 2022,…
Gabriel Sotelo

Gabriel Sotelo

Third-year Computer Science and Mathematics student Gabriel Sotelo explores his passions both in and outside the classroom. Sotelo, from Peru, is the president and a…
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