The speech outlines the diverse population of the College of Arts and Letters, and how the programs within it have shaped graduates with a culture of care.

Nic Antaya, an MSU senior in journalism, has been named the runner-up in the National Press Photographers Association, or NPPA, Student Photographer of the Year contest. The final award comes after success in quarterly contests held by the NPPA in topics ranging from general news, features, spot news and portraits.

Courtney Way, who is graduating this spring with a double major in theater and human development and family studies, believes that theater and the arts can help individuals “deal with the stressors of being disabled” and should be enjoyed by all.

I never really thought I would go to college, let alone a huge university like MSU. I was very much an introvert in high school, and I didn’t think I would thrive at the collegiate level. I liked learning, but I wasn’t very good at traditional subjects. After a long search for a perfect fit, the Residential College of Arts and Humanities here at MSU drew me in immediately.

By the time Coty Raven Morris was 12, she had attended six schools, lived with multiple families in two different states, and experienced the death of her mother and grandmother. Abuse and neglect were woven into the fabric of her life, adding to the complexities of her childhood.

Jasmine “Jazzie” Pigott said her world changed the day she discovered a classical musician who was female, black and making it in the solo world as a prominent tubist. Today, the MSU master’s student in tuba performance looks to inspire the next generation of black girls by creating a tuba album written by young composers of color.

Beginning around April 23, Muslims around the world, and here at MSU, will begin observing the holy month of Ramadan. Though non-Muslims know Ramadan mostly as a month when Muslims don’t eat or drink during the day, for adherents, its significance is much deeper.

Faculty and staff from MSU's College of Music partnered with West Michigan Piano to deliver pianoes to stay-at-home students so they could practice and complete their semester courses.

It feels like an appropriate celebration at the Michigan State University Department of Theatre as well; in just a few short days, Troy Gährs and Shelby Eppich will become the first MSU students to graduate from the Department of Theatre’s new Bachelor in Fine Arts Stage Management degree program.

Now, these students from the MSU School of Journalism have been honored with a nomination for a college television academy award for "Bags to Butterflies."