In This Issue

• Applications are now open for JMC Academic Affairs Scholarships and Education Abroad Scholarships

• Upcoming events

• Opportunities of interest to JMC students

• Grad school resources

• Important dates for Spring 2026 graduates

• Student resources in Case Hall

• Madisonian Mention: Elise Kilbride

JMC Scholarships

JMC Academic Affairs Scholarships
Applications are now open for JMC Academic Affairs Scholarships. Awards include:

• Ron Dorr Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Writing ($500 for first place, $300 for second place, $200 for third place): Open to all JMC students. Recognizes the best academic essay, autobiographical narrative or piece of creative writing submitted by a James Madison College student.

• Doug Toma Scholarship for Outstanding Roommates and Case Hall Residents ($4,000): Open to Case Hall residents. Recognizes outstanding roommates for their contributions to the college experience, their floor and the living-learning environment in Case Hall.

• Habib Scholarship in Muslim Studies ($3,250): Open to any MSU Muslim Studies minors this semester, with preference for students with professional goals involving Muslim Studies.

• Steven J Kautz Memorial Scholarship ($3,000): Open to JMC juniors. Recipient selected based on outstanding academic work. Preference for a GPA of 3.5 or higher and experiences that relate to the study and practice of American, British and Comparative Politics.

• D.J. Sarafa Scholarship ($4,500): Open to JMC juniors with a 3.5 cumulative GPA and in need of financial aid.

• Blaine W. Strimple Endowed Scholarship in International Relations ($4,500): Open to JMC juniors studying international relations with 3.0 GPA or higher. Preference for students who are committed to changing impressions and prejudices by focusing people on their common hopes and desires.

• Michael and Audrey Rubner Scholarship for International Studies ($2,500): Open to JMC students expecting to graduate in December 2026, May 2027 or August 2027. Preference for International Relations students (or similar fields of study) who have a clear interest in the Middle East, U.S. foreign policy-making or international security.

• The Sylvia E. Tramm and Constance C. Tramm Hunt Scholarship Fund ($2,000): Open to first-year JMC students and awarded based on financial need and merit.

Applications for Academic Affairs Scholarships are due Friday, March 13, 2026. Learn more about how to apply on JMC’s website.

JMC Education Abroad Scholarships
Applications for the JMC Education Abroad Scholarships are now open. Students who are participating in an education abroad program for Summer 2026 or Fall 2026 are eligible to apply. Learn more and apply via Qualtrics by Feb. 28.

Events

Planning for Grad and Professional School
Feb. 16, 12:30 p.m. via Zoom. Thinking about graduate study, law school, or medical school? MSU’s Career Services Network is here to break down the process for you, from start to finish. RSVP via Handshake.

The Voice of Hind Rajab: Film Screening & Discussion
Feb. 16, 7 to 9 p.m. in Room B-122, Wells Hall. Free film screening of the Academy Award-nominated The Voice of Hind Rajab and panel discussion with Profs. Farha Abbasi, Waseem El-Rayes and Salah Hassan. Learn more via JMC.

Recovering Isocratic Political Science 
Feb. 18, 5 to 7 p.m. in Club Spartan, 338 Case Hall. Zinman Scholar in Residence Dr. Ariel Helfer will explore the writings and legacy of the lesser-known classical thinker Isocrates and his relationship to Socratic philosophy. Learn more via JMC.

JMC Fourth Annual Black History Month Symposium
Feb. 20, 12 p.m. in Club Spartan, 338 Case Hall. This year's keynote speaker will be The Honorable Conrad Mallet, Jr., the first African American Chief Justice on the Michigan Supreme Court and former Deputy Mayor for the City of Detroit. All are welcome to attend. Register to attend via Qualtrics.

Declared Independent: The Logic of Revolution
Feb. 20, 5 p.m. in Club Spartan, 338 Case Hall. With Dr. Robert McDonald, Professor of History, Department of History & War Studies at the United States Military Academy. If the purpose of government is to protect rights, could the British regime in America be said to function as a government? Not according to Patrick Henry, who as early as 1774 insisted that “we are in a State of Nature!” fter Redcoats initiated hostilities and George III declared the colonists out of his protection, people asserted that the king had abdicated the crown in America. The July 1776 Declaration of Independence, in other words, didn’t create a new reality. Instead, it acknowledged a painful fact. Learn more via JMC.

Info Session: National and International Scholarships 
Feb. 24, 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Room 332, Case Hall. Hosted by Assistant Dean Jeff Judge, this session will introduce interested students to competitive scholarships and fellowships, including the Marshall, Rhodes, Truman, Voyager and other scholarships. Learn more via JMC.

Book Talk with Prof. Susan Stein-Roggenbuck 
Feb. 24, 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Room 255, Old Horticulture. Join the MSU History Department and JMC for a book talk with Prof. Susan Stein-Roggenbuck as she discusses her book, Caring for Mom and Dad: Parent Dependency and American Social Policy. Learn more via MSU History.

Hip Hop Hangout: Black History Mixtape
Feb. 25, 6 p.m. in Club Spartan. Join Hip Hop Hangout for a revival of JMC's Black History Month Tiny Desk Concert. This event will celebrate Lansing's rich hip-hop community and culture. RSVP via Eventbrite.

JMC Research Showcase
JMC’s 2026 Research Showcase will be held on April 24 in Case Hall. Students are invited to present their scholarship with faculty, staff, peers and external audiences. Learn more about the event and submit your application by March 13.

February Alum in Residence: Spencer Good

The JMC Alumni in Residence program offers Madison students the opportunity to connect one-on-one (via Zoom) with JMC alums for mentoring and networking. The January Alumnus is Spencer Good (PTCD, SRP 2024), who works as a Legislative Director for State Representative Joseph Fox within the Michigan House of Representatives.

Meet with Spencer

Opportunities

ProjectConnect @ MSU
Did you know it takes the average student 50 hours to make a casual friend? ProjectConnect @ MSU is a facilitated program designed to help students connect with peers, make friends and build meaningful community. Students meet in small groups of 4-6 and get to know one another over the course of six one-hour sessions, engaging in fun, thought-provoking conversations sparked by creative prompts. Register online by Feb. 19.

Restorative Justice Training 
Open to all MSU students, this free two-day experience (Feb. 27-28) explores how conflict can bring us closer rather than pull us apart. Participants will learn the foundations of Restorative Justice, practice relationship-centered approaches to resolving harm, and build tangible skills to foster more just and connected communities. Register by Feb. 23 via Eventbrite. Contact [email protected] with questions.  

Flint Forward: Discover the Power of Place, Purpose, and Possibility 
This one-day exploration on April 9 invites undergraduate students in good academic standing to move beyond the headlines and engage directly with local leaders, cultural landmarks, and grassroots voices shaping Flint’s present and future. Departing from Berkey Hall at 7:15 a.m., this free experience includes transportation and lunch. Space is limited. Register to attend by Feb. 27. Contact Cathy White at [email protected] to reserve your seat. 

Academic Success Workshops 
View upcoming Academic Success Workshops hosted by the Office for Undergraduate Education. Upcoming opportunities include: 

• High Impact Study Techniques I, Feb 16, 4 to 5 p.m. Register Online 

• The Most Effective Note Taking Strategies, Feb. 16, 7 to 8 p.m. Register Online 

• Let’s Talk: Navigating Important Conversations in College, Feb 19, 5 to 6 p.m. Register Online

• Mingling Towards Academic Success, Feb. 19, 6 to 7 p.m. Register Online

• Academic Time Management, Feb 20, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Register Online

Spring 2026 Graduation Info

Attention Spring 2026 graduates!

• James Madison College's Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 2, at 12:30 p.m. in the Wharton Center. Register to participate via Eventbrite.

• Apply to graduate in SIS by Feb. 27 to ensure your name is included in the commencement program. (Note: If you have a FERPA restriction on your student account, your name will not appear in the commencement program.)

• Apply to be the JMC Student Commencement Speaker! This is a unique opportunity for a spring or summer 2026 graduating senior to represent the undergraduate class and share a meaningful message at commencement. Apply by Feb. 19.

• If you’re a Spring or Summer 2026 graduate interested in helping to select the Student Commencement Speaker, apply by Feb. 19.

Learn More About Graduation

Student Resources

Academic Advising
Academic advisors are available for drop-in advising through the Express Advising Center in 328 S. Case Hall on weekdays. Visit JMC’s website for more info.

Internships & Education Abroad Advising
Students with questions about internships and education abroad programs can meet with Field Experience Coordinator Lauren Michalak for drop-in advising on Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. in 329 South Case Hall.

JMC Community Counselor: Drop-In Counseling
CAPS Connect counselor Victor Léon is available for free, confidential drop-in counseling on Monday afternoons from 3 to 5 p.m. in S363 Case Hall. Visit MSU CAPS Connect for more information.

Writing Center at JMC
Need help working through an assignment, essay or presentation? The Writing Center at JMC in 341 Case Hall will be open Monday-Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. Schedule an appointment or drop in.

Office Hours with Assoc. Dean Linda Racioppi
Associate Dean Linda Racioppi holds weekly office hours on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in S359 Case Hall. Stop in to discuss your academic journey with college leadership. These drop-in office hours are open to all Madison students.

Connect with JMC’s Career Peer  
Need help with resumes, cover letters, personal statements or interview prep? Connect with JMC’s Career Peer, Taylor Toth, during weekly office hours held Wednesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in S329 South Case or schedule on Handshake. Taylor can also review materials sent to [email protected].

Madisonian Mention: Elise Kilbride

Learn more about Elise below!

“Hi everyone! My name is Elise Kilbride, and I am a junior majoring in International Relations, Psychology, and Human Biology.  Through these fields of study, I hope to pursue a career in emergency medicine and global health policy! I currently serve as the Community Service Network Director for James Madison College’s Student Senate, where I work to extend our impact beyond Case Hall and into the broader community. I’ve had the pleasure of participating in Spartan Day of Service and am now working in partnership with Case Hall Government to implement the Care Center!  I additionally serve on the International Relations Caucus, helping organize events for IR majors like IR Game Night and the Foreign Policy Forum. Outside of JMC, I am also the Editorial Consultant for SPARC, the first student-led interdisciplinary journal at MSU, and a member of Delta Phi Epsilon, a professional foreign service sorority! Beyond my extracurricular involvement, James Madison College has provided me with hands-on learning opportunities and direct access to exceptional professors who have deepened my knowledge of international relations and public affairs as a whole!”

Favorite movie: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith 

Favorite Artist or Band: Lizzy McAlpine, Two Door Cinema Club, Malcolm Todd, and Arctic Monkeys 

Favorite JMC Class: MC 326: U.S Foreign Policy with Professor R. Brathwaite

Best study spot: Bott nursing building, the music library in the main MSU library, and the union! 

Have questions or submissions for this newsletter? Contact Jane Deacon ([email protected]).