By Brandi Stover
Every year, the MSU Alumni Office selects a group of the university’s exemplary student leaders to sit on the Homecoming Court. This is among the highest honors for seniors, and this year over half of the court are Honors College Spartans.
They embody all it means to be an Honors College student; between research, community service, and academic rigor, they have each found a way to make their mark on campus. Introducing the 2024 Honors Homecoming Court.
Tazkira Amin
Tazkira Amin, from Warren, Michigan, is pursuing a degree in Social Work with a double minor in Cities: Environment, Design and Society and Global Health and Epidemiology in the College of Social Science. She was a member of the Honors College Professorial Assistantship program studying the thought process behind implementing programs in K-12 schools.
Q: What does being on Homecoming Court mean to you?
A: I am where I am today because of all of the people that have assisted me. Being on Homecoming is a testament to my gratitude for everyone who has helped me, been kind to me, and supported me in times of need.
Q: What is one piece of advice you have for incoming freshmen?
A: I would say that you should be more vocal in your appreciation for people. There are thousands of people on this campus cleaning the facilities you utilize and making the meals you eat. Showing your gratitude can make an interaction go from ordinary to memorable.
Q: If you had to choose a theme song to play every time you walked on campus, what would it be and why?
A: So Fresh, So Clean by Outkast
Erin Caldwell
Erin Caldwell is a student in the College of Social Science majoring in Social Work with a double minor in Human Behavior and Social Services, and Resource Management from the Individual, Family and Societal Perspectives.
She is from Brighton, Michigan.
Jerome Hamilton Jr.
Jerome Hamilton Jr. is a University Distinguished Scholar from Baltimore, Maryland. He is pursuing a degree in Political Science Pre-Law with a minor in Environmental Social Science through the College of Social Science. Hamilton was a Professorial Assistant and is a leader for Honors Students Actively Recruiting (H-STAR).
Last year, he was a nationally recognized finalist for the Truman Scholarship and is now a current university nominee for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship and Marshall Scholarship.
Q: What is your go-to study snack?
A: Apples and Peanut Butter. it’s undefeated!
Q: What is your favorite campus tradition and why?
A: It has to be the Izzone Campout! I love being out there with all of the Izzone and freezing in the early hours of an October morning. I wish we could do it for other sports, too!
Q: If you could switch places with any faculty or staff member, who would it be and why?
A: I’ll say Dr. Micomonaco. I would want to assemble the PA’s since I had such a fun experience in that program for my first two years!
Sanaye Lewis
Sanaye Lewis is a University Distinguished Scholar pursuing a degree in Computer Science through the College of Engineering with a minor in Cognitive Science. She is from Kennesaw, Georgia.
Lewis has been heavily involved in the Honors College as a student participant, mentor, and program assistant for HC IMPACT; a researcher in the Professorial Assistant program; and a member of student organizations like H-STAR, Honors Students of Color Coalition, and First-Year Council.
Q: What is your favorite part of being in the Honors College?
A: I love that there are so many opportunities presented to me from the Honors College, and I love that I have gotten to meet so many inspiring students as a part of it.
Q: What is one Spartan memory you will carry with you for the rest of your life?
A: One memory I will carry with me was building a snowman and having a snowball fight with my friends at night right across from Wilson Hall on the first big day of snowfall of the year.
Q: What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know at first glance?
A: I have played over 100 hours of the game Just Dance.
Niya Patel
Niya Patel is a senior pursuing a degree in Supply Chain Management through the Broad College of Business with a minor in Information Technology. She is from Okemos, Michigan.
Q: What is one piece of advice you have for incoming freshmen?
A: Get involved!! I learned more about myself, my strengths/weaknesses, leadership, and community through getting involved with student organizations. It is the best way to immerse yourself in MSU’s culture and give back to our community.
Q: What is your favorite campus tradition and why?
A: Midnight finals screams. It is something all of us can look forward to when we are studying late at night. It builds excitement during a stressful time and ‘trauma’ bond over finals.
Q: If you could switch places with any faculty or staff member, who would it be and why?
A: I would switch places with Sparty! I want to know what a day in the life as Sparty looks like and if it’s really hot inside the suit!
Abigail Rodriguez
Abigail Rodriguez, from Sunland Park, New Mexico, is a senior pursuing a double major in Arts and Humanities and Political Science Pre-Law from the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities (RCAH) and the College of Social Science.
Rodriguez participated in HC IMPACT her freshman year and was a member of First-Year Council. She is also a current university nominee for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship and Marshall Scholarship, and last year was nominated for the Beinecke Scholarship.
Q: What does being on Homecoming Court mean to you?
A: As a first-generation student and a Latina, being on the Homecoming Court is a reflection of the resilience and determination of the communities I come from. It’s a chance to highlight our unique journeys, celebrate our resilience, and show others that our identities and backgrounds are sources of strength.
Q: What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know at first glance?
A: I am a huge fan of competitive figure skating and have been since 2016! I watch all the major international competitions! However, I have never ice skated in my life!
Q: If you had to choose a theme song to play every time you walked on campus, what would it be and why?
A: This is such a hard question! Right now, one song that I have on repeat is The Chain by Fleetwood Mac, which is such an iconic song with an amazing beat and vibe. It instantly boosts my mood and makes me feel unstoppable whenever I hear it.
James Suggit
James Suggitt is an Alumni Distinguished Scholar from Flemington, New Jersey pursuing a degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology Microbiology through the College of Natural Science. Suggitt was a Professorial Assistant in the Wales Lab on campus and is a member of H-STAR.
Q: What is your favorite part of being in the Honors College?
A: The opportunities to take advanced classes (both undergraduate and graduate level) without prerequisites is incredible! I was able to take my research mentor’s PhD-level class this past spring and had a great experience learning about plant biochemistry (and graduate school life).
Q: What is one Spartan memory you will carry with you for the rest of your life?
A: Beating Michigan in football my freshman year. Coming out of COVID-era distance learning to a Big Ten school and seeing how excited everyone was for the game was when I learned to love Spartan Football!
Q: What is your go-to study snack?
A: Popcorn or trail mix