Monday, April 6, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Multimedia

FEATURES

Former MSU professor to compete in worldwide piano contest

Former MSU chemistry professor William McHarris has written more than 150 compositions, 24 of which he said have been published. He played the organ, directed choirs at several churches and became an assistant carillonneur at Beaumont Tower in 1996. He has since composed at least eight pieces for the carillon. In May, he will be competing in the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest.

MSU

Student starts his own medical device company

Business preference freshman Bailey Paxton has been traveling the country since the summer before his senior year of high school, courting investors and networking with manufacturers to get his medical device company off the ground.