Hi Spartans!
Last month, our alumni newsletter hit your inbox with well-meaning but erroneous "Hi Ashley..." in the subject line. It was a result of human error and was quickly followed by an email acknowledgement. What we did not expect was the overwhelming outpouring of grace that you sent back. It was a highly affirming moment and a reflection of what the best of us can be when we put positivity into the world.
Earlier this year, we launched a $4 billion comprehensive campaign—"Uncommon Will, Far Better World.” The truth of those words echoed loudly in this moment. Many of you reached out to share more than just a heads-up about our mistake, but also cherished memories, recent life updates, and what it means to be a Spartan. It seems wholly unfair that your stories would only be seen by a small handful of people. These shared experiences create a universal sense of belonging and a reminder that there is more that links us than sets us apart. Even as we drift to all corners of the globe, we’re a Spartan family over half a million strong!
So, please enjoy these short stories that your fellow alums were happy to share with all. Feel free to reach out with stories of your own. Our inbox is always open. It's a pleasure to hear from you!
‘You can’t forget Little John Flowers’
Little John Flowers, ’08
Sporting “the most unique name in Spartan football history,” Little John Flowers is a 2008 graduate of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. He was recruited by Nick Saban out of Kalamazoo’s Loy Norrix High School alongside former Spartan running back T.J. Duckett.
“I committed to MSU at a basketball game that just so happened the great Magic Johnson was there,” Flowers said. “Coach introduced him to me and my parents. It was over. I was a Spartan for life. I absolutely love Michigan State. My time living in Case Hall, then living in Spartan Village, was the best.”
Remembering the night men’s basketball team won the 200 NCAA Championship, Flowers called it a “great, great time to be a Spartan.”
“That celebration was unmatched to this day,” he added.
Flowers said MSU helped him reach his goal of playing in the NFL. He spent time with the New York Jets, New York Giants and the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe. After his professional career, he returned to MSU to finish his degree.
“Becoming an alum was the best feeling in my life,” he said. “Graduating with a communication degree has set me up for life. Being in retail for the past 18 years, running some big companies that you all have shopped—Walmart, Kroger, Meijer, Dick’s and now Love’s Travel Stops—one thing is for certain, you come in my store or shop, there will be a MSU flag hanging somewhere.”
‘Giving and being present’
Sue Carter, ’84, Ph.D. ’21
After 29 years as a professor in the MSU School of Journalism, Secretary with the Board of Trustees and a Chair of the Faculty Senate, Sue Carter was looking to serve in a different way. As a chaplain with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Carter is part of a select group of civilian volunteers aiding in the service’s mission.
“In Michigan, who doesn’t love water? And who does it better than the Coast Guard?” Carter said. “The opportunity to serve as one of 20,000 U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarists is inspiring. The training we receive really stands up to that I received at MSU.”
Carter is one of 100 chaplains ordained in various denominations and faith traditions. She holds services, assists in ceremonies, and offers counseling and suicide prevention training among other duties. At the end of June 2025, Carter was assigned to the USCG Cutter Eagle—the military’s only sailing ship. A 10-day journey with the crew and Coast Guard Academy cadets will take her from San Francisco to Seattle.
“My decades at MSU as a student, professor and administrator prepared me for the next chapter of life,” she said. “It is one of giving and being present.”
‘The star of the wedding’
David Kapolka, ’72
David Kapolka had hoped the world’s most lovable mascot could make an appearance at his son’s wedding on June 7, 2025. When the rejection letter hit their email inbox, the family was disappointed but still prepared for one of the most memorable days of their lives.
“There’s a wonderful story of rejection and elation involved here,” Kapolka said. “I shared the rejection letter with my son, and he agreed it would have been awesome to have Sparty at his wedding. Well, a week passed and I got another email saying there had been a cancellation. Sparty was back on!”
Kapolka is a Spartan to the core. He graduated in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree from the College of Education and went on to earn advanced degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy and Western Michigan University. Kapolka served on the MSU College of Education Alumni Board of Directors from 1985-92.
Having Sparty at his son’s big day just made sense.
“He showed up and was the star of the wedding,” Kapolka said. “He was great with everyone, especially the little girls who he danced and played with. I can’t tell you how much having Sparty there made the event even more special.”
‘A life-changing experience’
Ed Demerly, ’63
President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961. He envisioned a cohort of dedicated volunteers “anxious to sacrifice their energies and time and toil to the cause of world peace and human progress.”
That purpose struck a chord with Ed Demerly, who was at that time a student at Michigan State. Influenced by MSU’s diverse student population, the Civil Rights Movement and his studies in English and French literature, Demerly applied for the Peace Corps after serving two years in the Army Medical Service Corps.
“I was on the island of Borneo, four or more hours by boat in a village without roads, without electricity, without running water, without telephones, without regular mail—but with snakes, malaria mosquitoes, bats, scorpions,” Demerly said. “And with the most welcoming villagers.”
He described it as “the two very best years” of his life, teaching first-generation elementary students.
“A life-changing experience for them and me,” he said. “I felt I was given much more than I could ever give.”
Returning from the rainforests, Demerly said his time in the Peace Corps and his MSU education gave him a distinct advantage over other candidates throughout his career. He taught for 46 years, primarily at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan.
'Brought me back'
Mark Carravallah, ’10, MS ’24
For Mark Carravallah, receiving his June eNewsletter addressed to "Hi Ashley" was a delightful trip down nostalgia lane. The error was secondary to the fond memories it returned.
Carravallah graduated in 2010 from the College of Natural Science and returned for a master's degree in 2024. He still makes time to keep up with his former Spartan friends. All but one.
"One friend I unfortunately lost contact with was Ashley," Carravallah said. "In my junior year, I was invited to join a co-ed science fraternity. I made many friends and Ashley was one of them."
The pair bonded instantly and became close during their years in East Lansing. Life pulled them apart after graduation.
"It's really special how quickly you can create lasting relationships in such a short time in college," Carravallah said. "While I miss her a lot, seeing the email from MSU stirred up memories and brought me back to being in school and spending time with her and how much fun it was knowing her.
"As you get older it’s so much harder to create those kind of bonds like I created at Michigan State. It’s very bittersweet and special to have that experience and remember all the great times and memories being at MSU provided."