An academic, an activist, a role model and now a Point Scholarship recipient — Lauren Beach has accomplished many things during her time at MSU, and she said she is by no means close to finished in the pursuit of her goals.
Beach, a social relations and microbiology senior, was surprised she won the prestigious scholarship for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, students.
"It was like a big fluke," she said. I really encourage people to apply even to big scholarships. I'm an example that it can happen."
The scholarship, which will cover Beach's senior year and part of her graduate school expenses, had 30 national winners out of a pool of about 1,400, Beach said.
Beach won the award in May after an application process that involved a 12-page online form, three essays, three letters of recommendation and a clear vision of a service project to complete for the foundation, she said. The next steps included a phone interview and a flight to San Francisco during spring finals week for a face-to-face interview.
Beach has a 3.6 grade point average and has been a chairperson for the Alliance, a member of ASMSU's Academic Assembly, Women's Council and Academic Governance committees, she said.
Beach also works as an undergraduate lab assistant and researcher at the plant research lab, a student-athlete tutor at the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center and is a 2006 summer fellow for Dykema Gossett law firm, 124 W. Allegan in Lansing. During the school year, she's a desk receptionist at Case Hall.
Michael Craw, a social relations assistant professor in James Madison College, said he's impressed by Beach's ability to organize her time.
"One thing that I think is remarkable about Lauren is she's able to keep on top of so many things at once," he said. "Lauren is just a terrific student. I'm just in awe with the way she can manage her time."
Beach plans to attend the University of Michigan for graduate school for a degree in law and a doctorate. She hopes to one day work for the Food and Drug Administration regulating pharmaceuticals.
Brent Bilodeau, director of the MSU Office of LGBT Concerns, said Beach deserves the scholarship.
"She has an incredible work ethic," he said. "She sees a very strong connection between her academic pursuits, her campus activism and her career, post-MSU. That's one of things that makes her an excellent role model for other students."
