By: Brandi Stover
When Honors Students Actively Recruiting (H-STAR) mentors meet with prospective students, they often pitch the ability of the Honors College to “make a big university feel small.” H-STAR leader and Honors College student Jerome Hamilton Jr. knows firsthand how that statement can become a reality.
As a high school senior in Baltimore, Md., Hamilton was looking for a competitive political science program and found Michigan State University. He applied and subsequently attended programming sponsored by the Honors College during the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship competition. There, he fell in love with the Honors College and decided to become a Spartan for life.
“For me, it was the genuine connection I was able to build with students and staff,” Hamilton said. “The effort that the Honors College put into [the admissions process] was a huge reason I ended up attending MSU.”
“Even though we recruited Jerome to MSU in the middle of the pandemic, his effervescence and zeal for life – whether it was academics or baseball – came through loud and clear virtually,” Honors College Assistant Dean Bess German said. “It was as if he was a Spartan before becoming a Spartan.”
“We are thrilled that he decided to join us as a University Distinguished Scholar and have been lucky to call him a part of our Honors community ever since,” German said.
Now a fourth-year political science (pre-law) student in the College of Social Science with a minor in environmental social science, Hamilton remains active in the community that led him to East Lansing.
Through scholarship, research, and leadership, he remains committed to growing his perspective and understanding of those around him through his extracurriculars.
“Getting to know everyone in the Honors community is amazing,” Hamilton said. “It is so nice to be surrounded by the high caliber of students and it motivates me in the things I pursue.”
Excelling on the national stage
Hamilton has been recognized several times for his accomplishments through prestigious national awards and scholarship processes.
Last year, he was a national finalist for the Truman Scholarship, an award recognizing students with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to a career in public service.
Hamilton was an MSU nominees the Udall Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship, and the U.S. Rhodes Scholarship. He is currently a candidate for the Gaither Junior Fellows Program.
The Distinguished Student Awards Office (DSAO), administered by the Honors College, facilitated the nomination process and assisted Hamilton behind the scenes in developing competitive applications.
“[DSAO Assistant Dean] Dr. Janka was so helpful throughout the entire process when giving me feedback on my resume and application, and just making sure I was telling my story how I should have while also expressing what I want to do with my future,” Hamilton said.
Exploring passions through research
Hamilton has also been involved in several research opportunities on campus. From working with the Social Science Scholars on a project comparing media portrayal of the cocaine epidemic of the 1980s to the opioid epidemic of the 2010s, to an independent study on recycling in an on-campus building, he has studied a variety of topics to enhance his understanding of the world.
“The issues I care about when it comes to the environment don’t exist in a silo, they exist in many other areas as well,” Hamilton said. “They affect health, education, housing, and other areas like that, so I try to explore that as much as I can and do it through research.”
His primary research began through a Professorial Assistantship (PA) with Professor Daniel Kramer. The PA program, organized by the Honors College, provides a two-year research placement with a faculty member and stipend.
It allowed Hamilton to learn about environmental policy research and what research the field lacks, which he then turned into an award-winning project.
“Based on his varied research projects, Jerome has already given five university-level talks, won two awards for research excellence, helped raise about $10,000 in funding for the university and college, and has even been published in a professional journal,” Director of the Social Science Scholars Program John Waller said.
“A student more engaged in academics, research, service, and internships would be hard to imagine,” Waller said.
Achieving recognition for research
Last year, Hamilton was awarded first place in the oral presentation category of the Annual Diversity Research Showcase, hosted by the Honors College, for his work with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on distributing a survey about the barriers preventing marginalized communities’ participation in hunting and fishing.
“I presented my research on diversifying hunting and fishing in the state of Michigan. Both practices are amazing; they fund conservation and are a great way to get outdoors,” Hamilton explained.
“However, they mostly have white participants who tend to be older men due partially to a historical lack of inclusion,” he said.
This was his second time competing at the showcase, having placed first in the poster category for his research on the cocaine and opioid epidemics representation in media in 2023.
“It felt good individually, but it also felt good for the field because when it comes to the environment, most of the research involves the climate itself and less about relating it to people,” Hamilton said.
“Knowing I was able to effectively communicate that to people makes me want to repeat the process and research as much as I can,” he said.
Hamilton said he is grateful to the Honors College for organizing the Diversity Research Showcase and giving students the opportunity to use their voices about diversity-related issues.
“Being able to have that space to comfortably share research on those issues and get the word out is great,” he said.
“It’s been exciting to observe the breadth and depth of Jerome’s research through his participation in the Diversity Research Showcase,” Honors College Director of Student Success and Community Engagement Erika Crews said.
Crews said DRS provides a platform to “students like Jerome to elevate and celebrate their important research and innovative solutions.”
Leading the way for the next generation
Outside the classroom, Hamilton is a member of the Social Science Scholars Leadership Council and has volunteered with Generations Connect, an organization that links students from the university with seniors in the greater Lansing area.
But his favorite commitment is being a leader for H-STAR, the group of students who serve as mentors and guides to prospective Honors College students.
“I understand how it feels to wonder what the college experience is going to be like, so being able to help [prospective students] through H-STAR has been one of my favorite ways to be active in the campus community,” Hamilton said.
He’s worked with the organization during multiple iterations of the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship competition, as they welcomed hundreds of prospective Honors College students to East Lansing for a day of programming.
From sitting on panels, answering questions about student life, and being a mentor for the high school seniors, Hamilton enjoyed being able to participate in the event that greatly impacted his own future.
“It is unique to be able to come and compete for a scholarship, then also be treated to an entire day at MSU,” Hamilton said.
“I love helping these prospective students as they make that college decision and giving them what they need to make an informed choice about their future,” he said.
Hamilton has also championed a new future for the Honors College through his support of the Campbell Hall renovation. He spoke to alumni and major project donors at the Campbell Hall groundbreaking ceremony about the impact this will have on current and prospective Honors students.
“I’ll be able to tell high school seniors looking at MSU that we are literally tearing down walls and ripping up floors for them,” Hamilton said at the event.
Hamilton’s college experience has been a robust one, and he is grateful for all that he has been able to accomplish as a Spartan. From academic success, research excellence, and leadership opportunities, he has taken advantage of all the Honors College and MSU have been able to offer him.
“The experiences I’ve had facilitated through the Honors College have been great as both a prospective and current student,” Hamilton said. “It makes me feel so capable and pushes me to be the best I can be.”