H-STAR

H-STAR leaders Carol Massey, Samuel Rabick, and Jerome Hamilton Jr. standing and smiling in different directions. Massey is looking to the right, holding a white envelope. Rabick is in the middle holding a microphone. Hamilton is looking off to the left while holding a giant metal container. All three are in dark green quarter-zips with white embroidery that reads: Alumni Distinguished Scholarship Program.

H-STAR (Honors Students Actively Recruiting) involves current students in the recruitment of new Honors College members. The group’s volunteers serve as ambassadors for high-achieving high school students navigating through the MSU admissions process.

Members of H-STAR help by hosting overnight visitors, sitting on Honors College panels, taking prospective students to classes, phoning and writing Honors College invitees, visiting high schools, and meeting with prospective students and their families at special programs on and off campus.

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2025-26 H-STAR Leaders

Meet the leadership team for this academic year. They are part of the broader H-STAR organization that includes additional student volunteers.

Image of H-STAR leader and Michigan State University student Connor Croft seated outdoors and smiling at a restaurant. Ornate architecture is in the background. Croft is a fourth-year Honors College student who has participated in community engagement through HC IMPACT and undergraduate research through the Professorial Assistantship program. 

Year: Fourth-year student 

Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland 

Majors: Political theory & constitutional democracy, statistics 

Minors: Religious studies, computer science, human geography 

Clubs, activities, and programs: Croft is the president of Royal Encounters and a member of both the Sikh Student Association and Roial Players. 

On-campus jobs: University tour guide, statistics tutor 

Internship experience: Summer intern for the Housing Affordability Coalition of Howard County Maryland 

Chose MSU for: “The opportunities and resources it provides.” 

Professional portrait of H-STAR leader and current Michigan State University student Katherine Dyal smiling in a dark green top. Lush greenery is in the background.Dyal is a University Distinguished Scholar and College of Social Science Scholar. She conducts research on campus in the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. 

Year: Second-year student   

Hometown: Lubbock, Texas 

Majors: Global history, Russian 

Minors: Spanish, European studies 

Clubs, activities, and programs: Dyal is a founding member of the Printing Association and the journal editor for History Club. She is a member of the Social Science Scholars, History Scholars, Scholars Writing Workshop, and Ballet Club. 

Study abroad experience: United Kingdom (London, Oxford, and the Lakes District with Social Science Scholars) 

On-campus job: Home office staffer and content/projects developer for H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online in the Department of History 

Internship experience: Remote summer internship with the legal nonprofit Good Counsel Services 

Chose MSU for: “The opportunities to do research as an undergrad, join the Social Science Scholars program, and go to Latvia on the Russian study abroad program. Also because the seasons here are so beautiful.”

Professional portrait of H-STAR leader and current Michigan State University student Noah Forman standing and smiling. Forman is in a dark green suit with a green and white Spartan head patterned tie. A red brick building is in the background.Forman is a third-generation Spartan and Alumni Distinguished Scholar. He has participated in the Honors College’s HC IMPACT and Professorial Assistantship programs. 

Year: Second-year student 

Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida 

Major: Economics  

Minor: Entrepreneurship and innovation 

Clubs, activities, and programs: Forman is co-chair of Michigan State President Guskiewicz’s student council, a student ambassador for the university’s advancement office, a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for both the Honors College and the College of Social Science, a Social Science Scholar, and director of Honors College Media Ambassadors. 

Study abroad experiences: Ireland (cultural perspectives of health and wellness) and Paris (entrepreneurship and sustainable business) 

On-campus job: Honors College special projects and strategy consultant 

Internship experience: Campus lead for the Duggan for Governor campaign 

Chose MSU for: “The abundance of opportunities, the university’s dedication to innovation, the kindness of the people, and Spartan spirit. Although I was born and raised in sunny South Florida, I have been braving the cold, sitting through football games in East Lansing in 30-degree temperatures since the age of 4. What can I say? I was born with green blood.” 

Image of H-STAR leader and current Michigan State University student Evelyn Gomez Recinos leaning against a brick wall and smiling softly. She is wearing a black top and blue jeans.Gomez Recinos is a first-generation college student and fourth-year Honors College Spartan. She conducts research as an undergraduate laboratory assistant in the Pyeon Lab. 

Year: Fourth-year student   

Hometown: Fort Smith, Arizona 

Majors: Genomics & molecular genetics, neuroscience 

Minor: Italian 

Study abroad experience: Ferrara, Italy

Chose MSU because: “When I came to visit MSU, I fell in love with the campus. The more I learned about the programs and their flexibility the more sure I was that this was the place for me to grow and prepare myself academically and professionally.” 

Professional portrait of H-STAR leader and current Michigan State University student Ann Joseph smiling in a black top. A blue gradient design serves as the background.Joseph is a second-year Honors College student and Mowbray Scholar. She conducts research as a professorial assistant in the Christensen Lab for Wildlife Population Health. 

Year: Second-year student  

Hometown: Long Island, New York 

Major: Zoology 

Minors: Science, technology, environment, and public policy 

Clubs, activities, and programs: Joseph is the co-director of events for MSU Deepam, co-director of the speakers team for TEDxMSU, and a member of both the Pre-Veterinary Medical Association and Zeta Theta Omega Pre-Professional Zoology Fraternity. 

Study abroad experience: Oxford, England (ecology) 

On-campus job: Bug House guide 

Internship experience: Summer enrichment intern for the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn, New York  

Chose MSU for: “The community. Even on a campus as large as ours, you can find community wherever you look. Academically, there is an incredible community of faculty, staff, and researchers who want you to succeed. Socially, our student body hails from all over Michigan, the U.S., and the world. As a kid who grew up in New York, being surrounded by diverse people and perspectives was super important to me, and MSU gave me that kind of community. But I think my favorite part of community here at MSU is that there is always a space for you, and if nothing fits, you have the opportunity to squeeze right in and make a space of your own.” 

Image of H-STAR leader and Michigan State University student Camden Kimmel pulling down sunglasses and looking at the camera with a wide-eyed expression. Kimmel is in a light blue and white striped button-up shirt and grey bandana, with a backpack on. A tree full of orange and red leaves is in the background.Kimmel is a second-year Honors College student and has served as a mentor for HC IMPACT.  

Year: Second-year student   

Hometown: O’Fallon, Illinois 

Majors: Physiology, biochemistry & molecular biology 

Minor: Dance 

Clubs, activities, and programs: Kimmel is company director of MSU Ballet Club, vice-president of matching for Perfect Pair, and participates in the Pre-Student Osteopathic Medical Association, Royal Encounters, Sunrise MSU, and CodePink. 

On-campus job: Peer educator for the Prevention, Outreach, and Education Department 

Chose MSU for: “The abundance of opportunities to pursue my passions that I knew could be found here. Not only were those opportunities present en masse, but the support networks to encourage such pursuits were proffered in equal measure.” 

Image of H-STAR leader and Michigan State University student Patrick Lo smiling with arms behind the head, laying the grass. Lo is in a dark green and white MSU Honors College t-shirt.Lo is a second-year Honors College student and has served as an HC IMPACT mentor.

Year: Second-year student   

Hometown: Wayne, New Jersey 

Major: Computer science 

Clubs, activities, and programs: Lo serves as the under-secretary general of operations for MSU Model UN, and treasurer for MSU Underwater Hockey Club. He also participates in the Honors College Dean’s Advisory Council.

Study abroad experience: United Kingdom (London, Oxford, and the Lakes District with Social Science Scholars) 

On-campus job: Professorial assistant 

Chose MSU because: “It offered me the best opportunity to do digital accessibility/human computing interaction research and grow my experience to work in the field full time. Additionally I loved the flexibility that the Honors College would provide for me to do classes outside of my major and really explore all of my interests.” 

Professional portrait of H-STAR leader and current Michigan State University student Carol Massey standing and smiling with hands in pockets. Massey is in a light brown long-sleeve top, black belt, and black pants. A red brick building is in the background.Massey is a third-year student who has gone through the Honors College’s Professorial Assistantship program. 

Year: Third-year student   

Hometown: Grapevine, Texas 

Majors: Criminal justice, psychology 

Minors: Philosophy, quantitative data analytics 

Clubs, activities, and programs: Massey serves as the Region G representative for Alpha Phi Omega’s National Student Advisory Committee. 

Study abroad experience: Poland (security and society in the information age) 

On-campus job: University tour guide 

Chose MSU for: “The wide variety of programs that create small spaces on a big campus.” 

Professional portrait of H-STAR leader and current Michigan State University student Anusha Pandaya smiling in a black cardigan and grey collared shirt. A grey gradient design serves as the background.Pandaya is a second-year Honors College student conducting research as an professorial assistant in a food sensory lab and serving as an undergraduate learning assistant for FSC 211 Principles of Food Science.

Year: Second-year student   

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina 

Major: Food science 

Minor: Beverage science & technology 

Clubs, activities, and programs: Pandaya volunteers with the Refugee Development Center in Lansing and is treasurer of H-STAR. She is a member of Food Science Club, Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service Sorority, Product Development Team, and Honors College Media Ambassadors.

Chose MSU for: “A really strong food science program, and when I toured campus, it was easy to see myself going here!” 

Professional portrait of H-STAR leader and current Michigan State University student Joey Paras standing and smiling. Paras is in a black polo shirt. A red brick building is in the background.Paras has been both a participant and mentor in the HC IMPACT program. He conducts research as a professorial assistant in the Chiu Organic Chemistry Lab. 

Year: Second-year student   

Hometown: Aurora, Illinois 

Major: Chemistry 

Minors: Science, technology, environment, and public policy 

Clubs, activities, and programs: Paras is a fellowship chair for the Alpha Phi Omega National Co-ed Service Fraternity, social outreach chair of Chemistry Club, photographer for Racing Club, a member of Photography Club, and a volunteer at the Impression5 Science Museum. 

Chose MSU for: “An amazing variety of opportunities for academic and professional success, like research, flexibility in coursework through the Honors College, and a great community though things like Lyman Briggs College and the other living-learning communities.”

Headshot of Tate Rudisill in a white dress shirt with a a tree and greenery in the background.Rudisill is a third-year student who serves as the graphic designer for the Honors College communications team. 

Year: Third-year student   

Hometown: Dayton, Ohio 

Major: Creative advertising 

Minor: Graphic design 

Clubs, activities, and programs: Rudisill participates in the MSU Society for News Design, the Gamma Epsilon Tau design fraternity, VIM Magazine, and the American Advertising Foundation.  

Study abroad experience: Rome, Italy and Cannes, France (MSU Advertising and Public Relations a la Mediterranean program)

On-campus job: Graphic designer at the Honors College and The State News 

Chose MSU for: “The campus and culture. I felt very welcomed and embraced at all of the Honors College events I attended, and really fell in love with the East Lansing area.”

Image of H-STAR leader and current Michigan State University student Nathan Sparschu standing outdoors and smiling with black sunglasses on. Sparschu is wearing a green and white MSU shirt and khakis.Sparschu is a third-generation Spartan who has led incoming first-year students in community-service learning as an HC IMPACT mentor. 

Year: Second-year student   

Hometown: Port Huron, Michigan 

Major: Human biology & microbiology 

Minors: Bioethics, health promotion 

Clubs, activities, and programs: Sparschu serves as a liaison for the Honors College Activities Board. 

On-campus job: Professional assistant in the Biomedical Engineering Department 

Chose MSU because: “At MSU I felt wanted!” 

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