Michigan State University has awarded comprehensive scholarships to 51 extraordinary first-year students - 16 of them are headed to the College of Engineering.
Alumni Distinguished Scholarships are part of a 71-year-tradition, University Distinguished Scholarships were initiated in 2000, and the Joseph R. and Sarah L. Williams Scholarships have enabled more students than ever to receive full merit awards to MSU.
The scholarships are considered some of the most competitive in the nation. They cover full tuition, room and board, and a stipend for up to eight semesters of undergraduate study. Each awardee also receives a spot in the MSU Honors College’s Professorial Assistantship program, which provides a two-year paid research placement with a faculty mentor.
Alumni Distinguished Scholars
Alumni Distinguished Scholars are outstanding high school graduates who applied to MSU, completed short essay responses, took an intensive general knowledge exam and participated in interviews with the selection committee of faculty and staff in winter 2026.
The 2026 Alumni Distinguished Scholars joining the College of Engineering are:
- Miranda Belo of Dublin Coffman High School and Dublin, Ohio. Belo plans to major in chemical engineering.
- Eric Beswick of North Hunterdon High School and Lebanon, New Jersey. Beswick plans to major in electrical engineering.
- Carston Broderick of Dow High School and Midland, Michigan. Broderick plans to major in chemical engineering.
- Avery Collins of Clarence High School and Clarence Center, New York. Collins plans to major in electrical engineering.
- Lincoln Kuhl of East Grand Rapids High School and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Kuhl plans to major in mechanical engineering.
- Evan Maki of Sylvania Northview High School and Sylvania, Ohio. Maki plans to major in chemical engineering.
- Alex Morrison of Elkhorn High School and Elkhorn, Nebraska. Morrison plans to major in mechanical engineering.
- Rory Welling of Chelsea High School and Chelsea, Michigan. Welling plans to major in mechanical engineering.
University Distinguished Scholars
The Honors College dean and the university's interim executive director of undergraduate admissions selected University Distinguished Scholars from a pool of all MSU applicants based on high school programs, achievements and finalist interviews.
The 2026 University Distinguished Scholar joining the College of Engineering is:
- Andrew Sreseli of the Komarovi Physics and Mathematics School N199 and Tbilisi in the country of Georgia. Sreseli plans to major in electrical engineering.
Williams Scholars
The Joseph R. and Sarah L. Williams Scholarship, named for MSU’s inaugural president and first lady, premiered in December 2024. Williams Scholars followed the same selection process as Alumni Distinguished Scholars: applying to MSU, submitting essays, taking a general knowledge exam and interviewing with a faculty-staff committee.
The scholarship program is differentiated by an experiential learning opportunity, which awardees can propose and pursue with an additional $7,500 stipend.
The 2026 Williams Scholars joining the College of Engineering are:
- Luke Compton of Maine South High School and Park Ridge, Illinois. Compton plans to major in civil engineering.
- Ezra Dunscombe of Plainfield High School and Plainfield, Indiana. Dunscombe plans to major in chemical engineering.
- Ben Holbrook of Huron High School and New Boston, Michigan. Holbrook plans to major in mechanical engineering.
- Kody Leano of West Chicago Community High School and West Chicago, Illinois. Leano plans to major in electrical engineering.
- David Rivera Lopez of Saco Oliveros School-Bellavista and Lima, Peru. Rivera Lopez plans to major in mechanical engineering.
- Ben Rolain of Barrington Community High School and Barrington, Illinois. Rolain plans to major in mechanical engineering.
- Isaac Thomas of Huron High School and Ypsilanti, Michigan. Thomas plans to major in mechanical engineering.
For more information, see merit scholarships for incoming first-year students.
Written by Melanie Brender, courtesy of the MSU Honors College.
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page