Madison Zamarron is a second-year student at Michigan State University studying communicative sciences and disorders.
I chose MSU because of my grandfather.
My grandfather (a.k.a “Dad”), Robert Gard, was an honorable and dedicated man with a massive love for his wife, children, grandchildren, career and motorcycles. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1973 with honors from Justin Morrill College of Liberal Arts, then later graduated from John Marshall Law School in 1977 with a juris doctor. That same year, he was admitted to the bar in Illinois and began practicing immigration law. Dad had a very distinguished career and was dedicated to helping others.
He often told me stories about his time at MSU, recalling his reckless and devious behavior as a young man. One of Dad’s most notable stories was during his first year when he was living in Snyder Phillips Hall and, due to his recklessness, was kicked out of the dorm. Dad would laugh and giggle, turning it into a learning lesson: “Don’t get too caught-up in partying like I did,” he would frequently tell me, "because you have to remember why you are here.”
Dad passed away on June 5, 2024 due to bone and lung cancer.
What does being a second-generation Spartan mean to me? Absolutely everything. I now have the special opportunity of carrying on my grandfather’s legacy and feeling connected to him on a whole other level, which means the absolute world.
I plan on graduating from Michigan State in 2027 and hope to make Dad proud. It’s all for him.