Zea LaBate will graduate on Sunday, May 3, with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. She spent five years as the student photographer in the College of Engineering office of marketing and communications.
I came to Michigan State University knowing two things: I wanted to study engineering, and I loved photography. What I did not know then was how much those two interests would shape my college experience and how much I would grow by pursuing both.
As a mechanical engineering student, I have spent the past five years learning how to solve problems, think critically and approach challenges with creativity and persistence. At the same time, working as a student photographer for the College of Engineering communications office gave me a different way to see the university and the people who make it special.
When I first started at MSU, being on such a large campus felt overwhelming. Like many students, I had to learn how to step outside my comfort zone, meet new people and find where I belonged. Over time, I found that growth often starts by simply showing up, getting involved and being willing to try something new.
Working in the communications office became one of the most meaningful parts of my experience at MSU. Through photography, I had the opportunity to capture events, research spaces, classrooms and student life across the college. It taught me how to tell stories visually, how to connect with people and how to grow more confident in my own work.
Some of my favorite moments came when my interests in engineering and photography overlapped. Photographing students working on projects and building ideas into something real reminded me why I chose engineering in the first place. Both engineering and photography ask you to pay attention to details, to process and to the bigger picture.
That connection feels especially meaningful this year. After spending years photographing Design Day, I now get to participate in it as a mechanical engineering senior presenting my capstone project. Last semester, I was also honored to receive recognition through the Leonardo Da Vinci Scholarship for best mechanical design in ME 470. Experiencing Design Day from both sides, behind the camera and now as a presenter, feels like a full-circle moment.
Photography has remained an important creative outlet throughout my time at MSU, but engineering has challenged me to grow in new ways. Together, those experiences helped me build technical skills, confidence and a stronger sense of who I want to be moving forward.
After graduation, I plan to pursue opportunities in industry and explore a move out West, with Colorado among the possibilities. I am interested in work that combines problem-solving, quality and hands-on experience, and I look forward to continuing to grow professionally while staying connected to photography.
When I think about what Michigan State has meant to me, I think about growth. MSU gave me the opportunity to develop as an engineer, build confidence in my creative work and contribute to the story of Spartan Engineering. That is something I will carry with me long after graduation.
Read more about this year’s student service award honorees.
Written by Zea Labate, a student photographer in the Marketing Communications office of the College of Engineering
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page