“One student, whose last name was Jones, didn’t know how to spell his last name, and she said to him, ‘What’s wrong with you? You can’t spell Jones? I can spell Hockensmith,’” Grimsted said. “That’s the kind of personality she had.”

Hockensmith, a social relations and policy and secondary education junior, died the morning of Nov. 23 in her home at 216 S. Magnolia Ave., Lansing.

Hockensmith’s roommate, Kathryn Stoecker, found her in her room — her skin was discolored, and she wasn’t breathing.

Stoecker called 911 immediately, but Hockensmith was dead by the time paramedics arrived. An autopsy was conducted by the Ingham County Medical Examiner, but the results are pending. Foul play is not suspected, Lansing police Lt. Noel Garcia said.

Hockensmith’s parents could not be reached for comment Monday.

Grimsted said Hockensmith always was opinionated and strong-willed — traits that paid off in 2010 when she came to MSU to pursue her passion for debate.

Hockensmith participated in debate in high school and began looking into MSU’s debate team during her first visit to East Lansing in February 2010.

“I knew immediately that she kind of had a spark, she had energy,” MSU Head Debate Coach Will Repko said.

In her first year with the team, Hockensmith qualified for the National Debate Tournament, something few freshmen do, Repko said.

Repko said she had an amazing talent, which garnered immediate respect from members of the college debate community across the country.

One of her close friends, Maria Liu, an Okemos native and a senior on the University of Michigan debate team, came to know Hockensmith during the past year — chatting with her at competitions and visiting when she returned home.

Liu said Hockensmith would light up a room when she entered and she always had a way of making people smile.

“She had so much potential to be a great debater,” Liu said. “Everyone could tell she had a really great work ethic.”

Sharp and talkative in class, Hockensmith was a perfect fit in James Madison College, said Matt Zierler, an assistant professor of international relations who taught Hockensmith.

“She really wanted to put herself out there but also to engage in debates about important ideas,” he said.

From witty banter, to listening attentively, Hockensmith was a true friend said Stoecker, a social relations and policy junior.

The day before Hockensmith died, she drove to pick up Stoecker from class just so she wouldn’t have to walk to the bus stop, Stoecker said.

“She was wildly generous,” Stoecker said. “She’d do anything for anybody — she just wanted to make people happy.”

Although her outgoing attitude was intimidating at first, her roommate and comparative cultures and politics junior Andi Salinas grew to love her for it.

“She was like, ‘Hey, I’m Jessica. This is me — take it or leave it,’” Salinas said.

Loud and vocal about her opinions, Hockensmith’s laughter could be heard from the next room, Salinas said.

Salinas said Hockensmith joked about having glitter shoot from canons at her birthday party and used humor to cheer up her friends.

“She was absolutely more than any other person I’ve ever met — larger than life itself,” she said.

The MSU Debate Team set up the Jessica Hockensmith Fund to support her high school’s debate program and help offset the funeral costs.

Hockensmith’s funeral will be held in Idaho. Donations can be sent to the Jessica Hockensmith Fund at Eagle United Methodist Church, 651 North Eagle Road in Eagle, Idaho or deposited directly to Chase Bank account number 3006631682.

UPDATE:

Hockensmith’s family will be holding a viewing from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Summers Funeral Home, 3629 E. Ustick Rd., Meridan, Idaho. Her funeral will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Eagle United Methodist Church.

An on campus memorial will be held from 7-8 p.m. Dec. 5 in rooms 207 and 208 Eustace-Cole Hall.