The Collection | EVERY SPARTAN | MSU

Every Spartan has a story worth remembering.

The Every Spartan Collection is a growing archive of the people, memories, traditions, and experiences that make the Michigan State community unlike any other. Each story offers a unique perspective on what it means to be a Spartan—from students and alumni to faculty, staff, athletes, parents, fans, and everyone whose life has been shaped by Michigan State.

Some stories will make you smile.
Some may inspire you.
Others may remind you of your own journey.

Together, they tell the story of a community built on resilience, opportunity, friendship, and a shared love for the Green and White.

Take your time, explore the collection, and discover the stories that connect generations of Spartans.

Every Story Matters. Every Voice Belongs. Every Spartan.

"In our house, MSU wasn’t just the favorite, it was practically the family rule. My dad would jokingly tell me there really wasn’t another option. Fortunately for him, it didn’t take much convincing. After visiting campus, I was hooked. The beautiful fall walks, the energy, the traditions, it already felt like home before I had even been accepted.

My MSU journey began before freshman year. I was accepted into the SUPER program. This program was designed to support students from lower-income backgrounds as they transitioned into college. The program provided books, a laptop, smaller classes, and a built-in support system that made a large university feel surprisingly personal. More importantly, it opened doors to friendships, mentors & opportunities that shaped the rest of my college experience.

I knew I wanted to become a teacher, and with Michigan State’s nationally recognized College of Education, choosing elementary education seemed like an easy decision. Then came sophomore year and one elective that completely changed my life. I signed up for American Sign Language simply because it sounded interesting. I had no idea it would become my passion. I discovered there was an entire career dedicated to helping Deaf and hard-of-hearing students succeed. I shifted my focus to Deaf Education, and decades later, I’m still fortunate enough to be doing work I genuinely love every day.

I somehow managed to pack every possible job into my schedule. I worked as a secretary in an office, served as an RA, and even waited tables on weekends. I’m honestly not sure when I slept. Apparently, college-age energy is a real thing!

Of course, no Michigan State story would be complete without football Saturdays.

Whether it was a beautiful September afternoon or one of those freezing November games that tested every layer of winter clothing I owned, I was there cheering on the Spartans. Even today, when AC/DC’s Thunderstruck starts playing, my family laughs because they know exactly what’s happening. Within seconds, I’m transported back to Spartan Stadium, surrounded by friends, singing, cheering, and reliving some of the happiest memories of my college years.

One of my greatest joys is sharing Michigan State with my own children. We walk through the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden, stop by Beaumont Tower, visit the library, wander through Shaw Hall, and catch performances at Wharton Center. Every visit reminds me that while the campus has changed in some ways, the feeling hasn’t.

No matter where life takes me, East Lansing will always feel like my home away from home.

Go Green!"

"Michigan State University means the absolute world to me. I grew up a Spartan Athletics fan and attended countless Spartan football games growing up. My favorite part of game day was always watching the football team run onto the field to Thunderstruck.

East Lansing became my home in 2012 and I was fortunate enough to stay throughout the duration of both academic career as well as my medical training.

This past year, I completed my Sports Medicine Fellowship at MSU and had the opportunity to work with a group of incredible physicians and mentors to take care of our Spartan Athletes.

Running out of the Spartan Stadium tunnel to Thunderstruck with our team on game day is one memory from fellowship that will always be special and the perfect way to end my time at MSU."

"My story begins with my parents, who came to the United States with a simple but powerful goal: to give their children a better life through education and opportunity. They built their lives through hard work, eventually both dedicating their careers to Michigan State University. Watching them, I learned early on what sacrifice, persistence, and commitment truly look like.

Growing up as the daughter of immigrants in a predominantly white community, I often found myself navigating spaces where I didn’t always feel seen or represented. Those experiences shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time—but they gave me a deep awareness of identity, belonging, and the importance of creating spaces where others feel valued and supported.

As a first-generation college student, I stepped onto a college campus without a roadmap. I worked my way through school, figuring things out as I went, driven by both my own determination and the sacrifices my parents had made for me to be there. Along the way, I also faced profound personal loss—losing one brother decades ago, and another just recently, as well as my father. Carrying both grief and responsibility, I continue forward grounded in resilience and the belief that education and purpose could carry me through even the most difficult moments.

That path led me to earn my Master’s degree in Social Work and a career with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, where I spent over 20 years working with children and families. It was there that my passion for child welfare and systemic change deepened, and where I saw firsthand both the challenges and the resilience within our communities.

Now, I find myself full circle—back at Michigan State University, the very place that shaped my journey, but this time as an educator. It is an incredible privilege to teach and mentor future social workers, many of whom share similar stories. I bring my lived experiences into every classroom, striving to create spaces where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to make a difference! I work in the College of Social Science, School of Social Work. I am so very proud to be a Spartan."

"I transferred into MSU as a sophomore. My first year, I spent in Wilson Hall-East. Being on the first floor meant that I was on a co-ed, multi-ability floor.

MSU is where I met my husband. We are both MSU grads. (His parents both graduated from MSU and I am the first Spartan graduate in my family.)

At 9 years old, I told my Dad that I would be going to MSU to major in Horticulture. The look of pride on my Dad's face when I graduated, was priceless. Dad is no longer with us, but he always had a few MSU hats that he wore- calling them the most expensive hats he ever wore.

MSU will always hold a special place in my heart."

"I have an unusual angle to being an MSU fan as it coincides with my being an admirer of the historical Spartans of ancient Greece.

Over the past 20+ yrs I have been writing a commentary on the Greeks. It includes but is not limited to the Spartans. Over the years I have sent coaches of the football, men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball & hockey teams books on the historical Spartans as well as historical fiction novels. The best of the latter would be the novel GATES OF FIRE by Stephen Pressfield. It centers around the 300 Spartans who fought to a last man @ the battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE.

Normally when I send books I don't hear anything back. The exception to the rule was both Bobby Williams & Mark Dantonio. Both of them were gracious and appreciated my gesture of goodwill. I also sent coach Dantonio a shirt with a Spartan helmet with the words MOLON LABE & told him the backstory. He liked it so much that it was inscribed on the bronze helmets the yr they wore their "combat" uniforms for the Grudge Match against Michigan. It was also put on the center screen of the football coaching room. In addition, a back-up Tight End (Chase Gianacakos) had the Spartan Lambda tattooed on his upper arm.

I will take credit for that as well as I informed coach D of why it was imprinted on the Spartan shields. As such, in a small way I feel I have contributed to Michigan State football."

"I'd like to share my story as a Parent. My Son goes to Michigan State. He was in the middle of the mass shooting on February 13th, 2023. I was flipping the channels and turned it to the news. MSU was in lockdown. We lost Brian Fraser, Alexandria Verner, Arielle Anderson. R.I.P.

I still pray every February 13th. The mass shooter also shot 5 other students. They all spent some time at Sparrow Hospital. I paced all night and blew up my son's phone. I called his twin in California. I panicked. My Story is... MICHIGAN STATE COMMUNITY IS STRONG AND WE SUPPORT AND LOVE EACH OTHER THROUGH THIS ADVERSITY"

The Every Spartan Stories Collection

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