Alumni and University Distinguished Scholars announced for the MSU incoming class of 2024

Michigan State University has awarded its annual Alumni and University Distinguished Scholarships to eighteen top incoming first-year students.

“These eighteen scholars represent a remarkable cohort of academic excellence and community engagement,” said Christopher Long, dean of the MSU Honors College through the scholarship competition cycle. “We look forward to how they will influence the Honors College, Michigan State University, and the world.”

The Alumni and University Distinguished Scholarships will cover full tuition, room and board, and a stipend for up to eight semesters of undergraduate study. The scholarships are considered some of the most competitive awards in the country, valued at approximately $140,000 for in-state students and $240,000 for out-of-state students.

Each awardee also receives a spot in the Honors College’s Professorial Assistantship program, which provides a two-year research placement with a faculty member.

“We are thrilled to welcome this year’s brilliant Alumni and University Distinguished Scholars to our campus! Our commitment is to support these outstanding students, providing them with all the tools and encouragement they need to excel as proud Spartans,” said John Ambrose, the MSU Executive Director of Admissions.

The newest Alumni and University Distinguished Scholars come from nine different states and three countries. They are pursuing degrees across six MSU colleges.

Alumni Distinguished Scholars

Alumni Distinguished Scholars were selected from some of the most outstanding high school graduates who applied to Michigan State. They wrote short essay responses, took an intensive general knowledge exam, and participated in interviews with the selection committee this past winter.

The Alumni Distinguished Scholars are:

• Zachary Bigelow of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Bigelow plans to major in German through the College of Arts & Letters.
• Julia Bolash of Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Bolash plans to major in Experience Architecture through the College of Arts & Letters.
• Joey Conroy of Columbus, Ohio. Conroy plans to major in Elementary Education through the College of Education.
• Noah Forman of Boca Raton, Florida. Forman plans to major in Economics through the College of Social Science.
• Camden Kimmel of O’Fallon, Illinois. Kimmel plans to major through Lyman Briggs College.
• Gautam Kiran of Canton, Michigan. Gautam plans to major through Lyman Briggs College.

• Will Linson of Twinsburg, Ohio. Linson plans to major in Mechanical Engineering through the College of Engineering.
• Nolan Means of Huntington, New York. Means plans to major in History through the College of Social Science.
• Joey Paras of Aurora, Illinois. Paras plans to major through Lyman Briggs College.
• Matija Scekic of Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Scekic plans to major in Chemical Engineering through the College of Engineering.
• Ella Sieburg of Park Ridge, Illinois. Sieburg plans to major in Mechanical Engineering through the College of Engineering.
• Giselle Torres of Canton, Michigan. Torres plans to major in Biosystems Engineering through the College of Engineering.
• Annie Walton of East Lansing, Michigan. Walton plans to major in Music Performance through the College of Music.

University Distinguished Scholars

University Distinguished were selected from all the Michigan State applicants by the Director of Admissions, John Ambrose, and the Dean of the Honors College, Christopher Long, based on high school programs, achievements, and interviews with the finalists.

The University Distinguished Scholars are:

• Katherine Dyal of Lubbock, Texas. Dyal plans to major in History through the College of Social Science.
• Owura Kwaku Debrah Fosu of Kumasi, Ghana. Fosu plans to major in Computer Engineering through the College of Engineering.
• Lara Korkmaz of Ankara, Turkey. Korkmaz plans to major in Neuroscience through the College of Natural Science.
• Ashlynn Linet of Louisville, Kentucky. Linet plans to major in Microbiology through the College of Natural Science.
• Kayla Norman of Coronado, California. Norman plans to major through the College of Nursing.

More information on the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship Competition is available here. Please contact Dr. Bess German at germanr@msu.edu with questions.