The year in photos: 2021

Beaumont Tower rang in the new year amidst a snow-covered campus. The iconic tower celebrated its 92nd birthday this year, serving as an enduring reminder of MSU’s legacy and the bright future ahead. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

While many of us hope each year for a short, mild winter, young Spartans Toby and Owen Wagner made the best of a snowy January day near the MSU Alumni Chapel. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

After a year of uncertainty brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, a silver lining came for many as the first COVID-19 vaccines were approved and distributed. The MSU Pavilion transformed into a drive-through vaccination clinic in partnership with the Ingham County Health Department and many Spartans, including our favorite mascot, volunteered to help protect the East Lansing community. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

 As snow melted and the first signs of spring appeared, even campus fauna set out to enjoy warm days to their fullest. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

The COVID-19 vaccine was made available to all Michiganders over 18 in April, and many MSU students were eager to help keep our community safe. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

Sunny May days saw campus looking its greenest. A collaboration between the student organization Sustainable Spartans; MSU Sustainability; and Infrastructure, Planning and Facilities resulted in The Green Space Initiative, two LiveWall vertical garden systems along the MSU Library Bridge. The installation is home to a variety of plants in planter boxes, designed to build bridges that bring the Spartan community together after a year of isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Nick Schrader.

A round of applause was well-deserved for MSU graduates who celebrated their achievements at spring Commencement. Commencement ceremonies followed safety protocols, including wearing masks, taking place outdoors and physical distancing to ensure that grads were able to celebrate their achievements at in-person ceremonies. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

Summer always slows campus down to a leisurely pace, allowing its plethora of natural beauty to take the spotlight. Photo by Jacob Templin-Fulton.

Michigan State’s favorite sculpture and favorite Gemini, the Spartan, celebrated its 76th birthday on June 14.  To show their appreciation for the many years the statue has stood watch over campus, a few of the Spartan’s biggest fans made sure it had all the décor it needed to celebrate its birthday in style. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

Summer is a great time to make new friends, and we were delighted to welcome new robot lawn mowers to campus. Not only are the robots sort of adorable, they are part of Infrastructure, Planning and Facilities’ “green zone” plan, which reduces both noise and emissions on created by grounds maintenance on campus. Photo by Nick Schrader.

Long August days brought plenty of time to explore all the hidden gems campus has to offer. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

The start of fall semester brought energy that was deeply missed back to campus, as approximately 14,000 students moved into residence halls and thousands more returned to East Lansing. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

As much as we love welcoming new students, it’s just as important to give a proper send-off when it’s time for the next phase of their journey. Members of the graduating class of 2020 joined summer 2021 graduates in the Breslin Center for a long-awaited commencement ceremony, after being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

Fall semester was a fresh start for many of us, and MSU buzzed with energy at the return of students and exciting changes all around campus. The STEM Teaching and Learning Facility officially opened on Sept. 10, and was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  The facility was designed around the 73-year old Shaw Lane power plant, and holds teaching spaces and labs that empower Spartans to innovate ways to learn and share knowledge about science, technology, engineering and math. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

The College of Music also celebrated the expansion of their facilities, as the Billman Music Pavilion held a long-waited ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 1. The pavilion greatly expanded the existing Music building, with 37,000-square feet of added space creating new rehearsal and performance spaces, as well as various improvements to the existing building. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

MSU celebrated homecoming the weekend of Oct. 1, with the theme “Spartans journey together.” The homecoming parade was lead by grand marshal Barbara Ross-Lee, MSU class of ’73. Ross-Lee was the first African-American female dean of a U.S. medical school and the first osteopathic physician to hold a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

Rain or shine, there’s always beauty to find on campus. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

It’s hard to choose a stand-out moment of 2021, but the Michigan State versus University of Michigan football game is certainly at the top of the list. Both teams entered the game undefeated for the season, and high stakes yielded high reward for MSU as the team seized a dramatic 37–33 victory. Photo courtesy of MSU Athletic Communications.

Autumn brought a plethora of vibrant colors to campus foliage. Photo by Nick Schrader.

Michigan State faced fierce teams this football season, but their final game at Spartan Stadium brought on a battle with the elements, as the first snow of the season came down hard during the game. Luckily, the team showed that they’re fiercer than any blizzard, ending the regular season on a 30-27 win.

As a finale to a fantastic season, the Spartans are heading to Georgia on Dec 30 to face the University of Pittsburgh in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Photo by Matthew Mitchell.

On November 30, a shooting claimed the lives of four students and injured seven people at Oxford High School in Oxford Township, Michigan. As the world processed the tragic incident, MSU students, including College of Law student Brendan Ruehle, came together to show support for the Oxford community. Ruehle painted the MSU Rock to honor the victims and their families, which provided an appropriate backdrop for a candlelight vigil on Dec. 7. Photo by Derrick L. Turner.

As snowy weather and quiet halls signal the end of the semester here at Michigan State University, Spartans Will burns bright. Though every year has its ups and downs, we’re thankful for all the Spartans who made 2021 great. Photo by Nick Schrader.