“The Honors College expects that they will continue to contribute to the MSU community through research and extracurricular activities not unlike the myriad of ways they contributed to their hometown communities and schools,” said Bess German, director of admissions and student affairs for the honors college.

Jamie Overbeek

If given the opportunity, some students would take their required courses and get their degree in three years.

Jamie Overbeek, an astrophysics sophomore, is not like most students.

She is one of the students to receive the university’s prestigious scholarship.

Thanks to credits from the Advanced Placement Program, Overbeek is technically a sophomore and could graduate early. But she said she wants to take time to study abroad and take classes toward her master’s degree.

Dante Pertusi

Fellow Alumni Distinguished Scholar and chemical engineering freshman Dante Pertusi is in the same boat as Overbeek. He expects to be classified as a sophomore in his second semester on campus, this spring.

Pertusi is looking forward to applying his degree to multiple fields of research.

“There are new compounds in the area of drugs, fuels and medicine so I thought it’d be a great opportunity to get into those high-tech fields,” he said.

Emily Disbrow

Lyman Briggs sophomore Emily Disbrow, a recipient of the University Distinguished Scholarship, has spent her first weeks at MSU learning more than just medical science.

“She certainly enjoyed the football game on Saturday,” Bonnie Disbrow, Emily’s mother said. Emily Disbrow received one of four of the scholarships, which is based on an a general knowledge exam, academic record and accomplishments.

“It meant a lot because she has known for a long time that she wanted to be a doctor,” Bonnie Disbrow said. “This scholarship makes looking at paying for medical school so much more feasible, so much more attainable.”