15 Briggsies earn prestigious MSU Board of Trustees Awards
December 15, 2022 - Maria Rifioti and Blythe White
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Each semester, the Michigan State University Board of Trustees recognizes graduating students for earning the highest scholastic average — a 4.0 GPA.This fall semester, 52 students received the MSU Board of Trustees’ Award. In addition to the award, each honoree receives $1,000 from the university for their accomplishment. 15 of those 52 award winners are Lyman Briggs College students.
“These awards represent the culmination of hard work and resilience demonstrated by our students during their years at MSU,” said MSU Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D. “The demonstrated excellence of each student will serve them well as they embark on their next career or educational journey. I am confident they will continue to make a positive impact across Michigan, our communities and the world.”MSU Board of Trustees Chair Dianne Byrum recognized each of the students during the board’s December 16 meeting.“We are extremely proud to present these graduating students with an award that recognizes their distinguished academic excellence,” Byrum said. “They make us and the Spartan community proud as they pave a bright future ahead of them.”
The 15 Briggs students are:
Matthew L. Bays: Neuroscience, Lyman Briggs College and a member of the Honors College. Bays is from Grand Haven, Michigan, and attended Grand Haven High School.
Emily E. Bourgeois: Social Relations and Policy, James Madison College; History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science, Lyman Briggs College and a member of the Honors College. Bourgeois is from Berkley, Michigan, and attended Berkley High School.
Apoorva Dayananda: Physiology, Lyman Briggs College and a member of the Honors College. Dayananda is from Northville, Michigan, and attended Farmington High School.
Rachel N. Elliott: Human Biology, Lyman Briggs College and a member of the Honors College. Elliott is from Canton, Michigan, and attended Plymouth High School.
Christine M. Evans: Physiology, Lyman Briggs College. Evans is from Charlevoix, Michigan, and attended Sacred Heart Academy High School.
Lauren E. Grasso: Biology, Lyman Briggs College and a member of the Honors College. Grasso is from Holt, Michigan, and attended Holt High School.
Navya Kalia: Neuroscience, Lyman Briggs College and a member of the Honors College. Kalia is from Novi, Michigan, and attended International Academy.
Akanksha Kapur: Physiology, Lyman Briggs College and a member of the Honors College. Kapur is from Troy, Michigan, and attended International Academy.
Jason J. Kazmierczak: Neuroscience, Lyman Briggs College; Psychology, College of Social Science and a member of the Honors College. Kazmierczak is from Macomb, Michigan, and attended Paul K. Cousino High School.
Skendi Lile: Neuroscience, Lyman Briggs College and a member of the Honors College. Lile is from Shelby Township, Michigan, and attended Dwight D. Eisenhower High School.
Sandy Lin: Human Biology, Lyman Briggs College and a member of the Honors College. Lin is from Commerce Township, Michigan, and attended Fenton High School.
Maria A. Pacifico: Computer Science, Lyman Briggs College. Pacifico is from Royal Oak, Michigan, and attended Royal Oak High School.
Amulya Vankayalapati: Nutritional Sciences, Lyman Briggs College and a member of the Honors College. Vankayalapati is from Northville, Michigan, and attended Northville High School.
Srihita Veeramachaneni: Human Biology, Lyman Briggs College and a member of the Honors College. Veeramachaneni is from Okemos, Michigan, and attended Okemos High School.
Michael R. Visniski: Neuroscience, Lyman Briggs College and a member of the Honors College. Visniski is from Grand Blanc, Michigan, and attended Fenton High School.
Congratulations to these students on such an amazing accomplishment!
This article has been adapted from the news story on the MSU Today website.