Michigan State University’s work to help veterans and their families transition back into civilian life and the university’s partnership with the MasterCard Foundation on its $500 million education initiative are among the stories showcased when MSU is featured on Big Ten Network’s new series “BTN LiveBIG” Feb. 16.
The program, airing at 11 p.m. following the MSU vs. Nebraska men’s basketball game, highlights a variety of segments that show how the Spartan community is making an impact in East Lansing and around the world.
Following are some of the featured segments.
- With about 19,000 service members from the Michigan National Guard having served in Iraq and Afghanistan, many deal with the challenges of post-traumatic stress, depression and unemployment. MSU professor Adrian Blow and his colleagues are studying more than 600 veterans and their families to help the military improve reintegration efforts. Blow will then lead an initiative designed to train licensed counselors in Michigan to work with the military and connect veterans and their families with these providers through an online registry.
- With 50-plus years of engagement in Africa, MSU has partnered with The MasterCard Foundation on its $500 million education initiative, The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program, to provide talented, yet financially disadvantaged youth – especially those from Africa – with access to high-quality education. MSU will help support 185 scholars throughout the nine-year program.
- Cameras follow MSU alumna Jenn Gibbons on her journey last summer to raise awareness for breast cancer research through the Recovery on Water program she founded.
- Former NBA player and MSU great Mateen Cleaves takes viewers through his hometown of Flint where he visits the local Boys and Girls Club and discusses the importance of giving back to the community.
The “BTN LiveBIG” series will continue featuring universities through March 6. For a program schedule and more information, visit btn.com/shows/livebig/.
“BTN LiveBIG” is the second BTN collaborative campus program series produced in conjunction with the Big Ten Conference and its 12 universities. The first was 2012’s “Impact the World.” Since the network launched in 2007, BTN has aired programs produced from each Big Ten university under the University Showcase heading.