More than 20 incoming students have been awarded scholarships to cover full tuition, room and board and a stipend for up to eight semesters of undergraduate study at Michigan State University.
The scholarships – considered among the most competitive awards in the country – are valued at about $130,000 for in-state students and approximately $230,000 for out-of-state students.
The newest 21 Alumni Distinguished Scholars and University Distinguished Scholars hail from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, New York, Missouri, Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Georgia, New Mexico and Ghana.
“Michigan State University offered these highly competitive scholars an opportunity to become leaders in our efforts to change the world,” said John Ambrose, interim executive director of admissions. “They represent the best and brightest of their generation and will receive a world-class education.”
All students receiving an Alumni Distinguished Scholarship or University Distinguished Scholarship will be members of the Honors College.
“Our students find that the Honors College is a catalyst for their active and innovate learning,” said Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, dean of the Honors College. “We congratulate these scholars on earning MSU’s most prestigious scholarships and are excited to see them excel.”
Alumni Distinguished Scholars were selected from more than 1,300 of the top high school seniors who applied to MSU, participated in interviews and took an intensive general knowledge exam this past winter.
The Alumni Distinguished Scholars are:
- Kaylie Ayres of Plano, Texas. Ayres is graduating from Plano East Senior High School. She plans to major in James Madison College.
- Joseph Chung of Okemos. Chung is graduating from Okemos High School. He plans to major in physics in the College of Natural Science.
- Alison Cramer of Bowling Green, Ohio. Cramer is graduating from Bowling Green Senior High School. She plans to major in neuroscience in the College of Natural Science.
- Jack Dudek of Buffalo, New York. Dudek is graduating from Saint Josephs Collegiate Institute. He plans to major in the Broad College of Business.
- Alder Fulton of Lorena, Texas. Fulton is graduating from Lorena High School. He plans to major in physics in the College of Natural Science.
- Vijayashree Jambunathan of Troy. Jambunathan is graduating from Troy High School. She plans to major in Lyman Briggs College.
- Riley Lawson of Saint Charles, Missouri. Lawson is graduating from Francis Howell North High School. He plans to major in electrical engineering in the College of Engineering.
- Cameron Lochrie of Chesapeake, Virginia. Lochrie is graduating from Oscar Frommel Smith High School. She plans to major in chemical engineering in the College of Engineering.
- Ishaan Modi of Fishers, Indiana. Modi is graduating from Hamilton Southeastern High School. He plans to major in Lyman Briggs College.
- Caroline Nielsen of Saginaw. Nielsen is graduating from Heritage High School. She plans to major in sociology in the College of Social Science.
- Brylee Pavlik of Freeland. Pavlik is graduating from Midland High School. She plans to major in Lyman Briggs College.
- Katherine Perry of Midland. Perry is graduating from Midland High School. She plans to major in Lyman Briggs College.
- Erin Sawyer of Farmington Hills. Sawyer is graduating from North Farmington High School. She plans to major in Lyman Briggs College.
- Bonnie Stolt of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Stolt is graduating from Carrboro High School. She plans to major in materials science and engineering in the College of Engineering.
- Avery Tilley of Aledo, Texas. Tilley is graduating from Aledo High School. He plans to major in fisheries and wildlife in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
- Nathan Woods of Evart. Woods is graduating from Evart High School. He plans to major in computer science in the College of Engineering.
University Distinguished Scholars were selected from an MSU applicant pool by the interim executive director of admissions and the dean of the Honors College based on high school programs, achievements, standardized test scores and interviews with the finalists.
The University Distinguished Scholars are:
- Osei Baffour-Awuah of Tema, Ghana. Baffour-Awuah is graduating from Prempeh College. He plans to major in electrical engineering in the College of Engineering.
- Steven Carey of Grove City, Ohio. Carey is graduating from Grove City High School. He plans to major in computer science in the College of Engineering.
- Maya Joyce of Montclair, New Jersey. Joyce is graduating from Montclair High School. She plans to major in astrophysics in the College of Natural Science.
- Lacie Kunselman of Gray, Georgia. Kunselman is graduating from Mount De Sales Academy. She plans to major in professional and public writing in the College of Arts and Letters.
- Gabriel Sandoval of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sandoval is graduating from Albuquerque Academy. He plans to major in James Madison College.
