The original version of this article detailing all undergraduate winners can be found here.
Seven outstanding future College of Social Science students were recently awarded Michigan State University merit scholarships. Two students earned University Distinguished Scholarships and six were awarded the Joseph R. and Sarah L. Williams Scholarship. Four of the college’s awardees- Zora Key, Ethan Krone, Anna Foote and Sophia Tavaraz- will also take part in the Social Science Scholars Program. The full list of College of Social Science winners can be found below.
A total of 51 incoming first-year students across nine colleges received scholarships. The scholarships are considered some of the most competitive awards in the nation. They cover full tuition, room and board, and a stipend for up to eight semesters of undergraduate study. The University Distinguished Scholarships were initiated in 2000, and the Joseph R. and Sarah L. Williams Scholarships have enabled more students than ever to receive full merit awards to MSU.
Each awardee also receives a spot in the MSU Honors College’s Professorial Assistantship program, which provides a two-year paid research placement with a faculty mentor.
“As professorial assistants through the Honors College, these 52 scholars will work alongside world-class faculty to address real-world problems through meaningful research,” said MSU Honors College Dean Glenn Chambers, Ph.D. “Empowered with a Spartan education, they will become leaders of discovery positioned to make a global impact.”
“These students are extraordinary, not only because of what they have already achieved, but because of the energy, curiosity, and leadership they will bring to MSU. These scholarships help make it possible for them to join our campus community and make a meaningful impact across the university,” said MSU Interim Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions Alexander Landen.
University Distinguished Scholars
The Honors College dean and the university’s interim executive director of undergraduate admissions selected University Distinguished Scholars from a pool of all MSU applicants based on high school programs, achievements, and finalist interviews.
The 2026 University Distinguished Scholars from the College of Social Science are:
- Zora Key of Little Rock Central High School and Little Rock, Arkansas. Key plans to major in history.
- Sophia Tavarez of the Bronx High School of Science and the Bronx, New York. Tavarez plans to major in economics.
Williams Scholars
The Joseph R. and Sarah L. Williams Scholarship, named for MSU’s inaugural president and first lady, premiered in December 2024. Williams Scholars followed the same selection process as Alumni Distinguished Scholars: applying to MSU, submitting essays, taking a general knowledge exam, and interviewing with a faculty-staff committee.
The scholarship program is differentiated by an experiential learning opportunity, which awardees can propose and pursue with an additional $7,500 stipend.
The 2026 Williams Scholars from the College of Social Science are:
- Ngoc Phuong Vy Dinh of VNU-HCM High School for the Gifted and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Dinh plans to major in economics.
- Anna Foote of Southfield Christian High School and Lathrup Village, Michigan. Foote plans to major in psychology.
- Paul Krone of Lincoln-Way East High School and Frankfort, Illinois. Krone plans to major in political science.
- Natalie Olinger of North Hollywood High School and Los Angeles, California. Olinger plans to major in economics.
- Milee Zarate-Bayani of Agoura High School and Agoura Hills, California. Zarate-Bayani plans to major in psychology.
More information about merit scholarships for incoming first-year students is on the MSU Office of Admissions website. Contact MSU Honors College Assistant Dean Bess German, Ph.D., at germanr@msu.edu with questions.