Where potential meets possibility

The Joseph R. and Sarah L. Williams Scholarship, named for MSU’s inaugural president and first lady, welcomed its first cohort of 30 scholars in fall 2025. Two of them already have stories to share.

Ava Crozier remembers the moment she found out she was going to be a Williams Scholar. She was at a basketball game with her lacrosse team and had to step outside of the gym to hear the unexpected call.

“It caught me entirely by surprise,” said Ava. “I couldn’t contain my excitement, so I told a friend of mine waiting in the concessions line first, and then I called my parents right away. It was really meaningful to celebrate with my team and friends once I went back to the game.”

Now, as a first-year student studying business management and information science, Ava has discovered a vibrant, welcoming culture at MSU. 

“MSU’s community immediately impressed me. I was quickly embraced as a fellow Spartan,” she said. “As a Williams Scholar, I get to contribute to rewarding research and have had the opportunity to meet outstanding alumni. This scholarship has completely transformed my experience.”

For Ava, giving back and education are central values, so much so that she began her own initiative in 2023, Coffeeshop Concerts, to host aspiring Michigan musicians and fundraise for youth music programs. 

“It’s so important to contribute to something bigger than oneself,” said Ava. “I am genuinely grateful to be welcomed into a network of Spartans everywhere excited about giving back to education and our MSU community.”

First-year engineering student Tejas Agrawal is already charting his path in computer science. He shares how the Williams Scholarship has enriched his Spartan experience.

When did you find out you had received the Williams Scholarship?
I was having dinner with my family when I got a call from Dr. Glenn Chambers. My entire family was gathered around me, all hoping for him to say the golden words. When he said I had received the scholarship, the room erupted with jubilation. I felt so grateful.

What drew you to MSU, and how has being a Williams Scholar shaped your first year?
When I saw the grit and commitment to advance the common good in the different opportunities across campus, I knew that MSU was a place where my drive would be matched by the community around me. Being a Williams Scholar has given me the greatest gift: time. Instead of splitting my time and focus between my studies and working jobs to cover tuition, the Williams Scholarship has enabled me to fully immerse myself in the Spartan community.

With this support, I have been able to join the eLANS (Exploratory Laboratory for Advanced Networking and Systems), where I learn how the cutting edge of Artificial Intelligence is advancing wireless technologies. I have also been able to join the DRIFT (Drone Research and Innovative Flight Technology) lab. These are experiences that would not be possible without the Williams Scholarship and I will be forever grateful for these opportunities.

What does it mean to support your fellow Spartans? 
To me, that support means no one succeeds in isolation; when one Spartan advances, we all advance. Knowing the Williams Scholarship is funded by fellow Spartans empowers me to continue striving for success, because I have an entire community standing behind me. Giving goes far beyond covering expenses, it gives us the ability to exercise our uncommon will and build a far better world.