Honoring graduating Broad Spartans in the Class of 2023

Commencement is a highly anticipated time where faculty, staff, alumni, friends, family and loved ones celebrate the achievements of graduating Spartans. At Michigan State University’s fall semester commencement festivities, held Dec. 15–16, more than 4,400 students earned their degrees, including over 220 advanced degree graduates and 330 undergraduates from the Broad College of Business.

Broad alumna Linda Apsey (MBA ’98), president and CEO of ITC Holdings, addressed the business undergraduates on Saturday morning after receiving an honorary doctorate degree in business at the ceremony. As the leader of the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company, Apsey had highs and lows to share about her career journey with the Breslin Center audience.

“I have sat where many of you are sitting right now, as an excited graduate and as a proud parent,” she said, noting how her twin daughters recently graduated from MSU. “I understand how hard you’ve worked and the experiences that have shaped you. Congrats for a job well done!”

Throughout her address, Apsey referenced lyrics of popular songs, like “Life Is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts, to illustrate how the eager graduates will soon be facing everything from smooth roads to forks, potholes and detours in their careers and lives ahead. She noted a few examples of detours in her own life, including moving to the United States from Scotland as a child and taking risks early in her career to follow what she believed in.

“Being your authentic self can be the most difficult, but it’s the most important thing you can do,” she said. Apsey encouraged the graduates to reflect on their sense of belonging and to always believe in themselves. Finally, she said, “Adaptability will serve you well as you set on this next stage of your journey.”

As part of the festivities, the Board of Trustees also recognizes graduating seniors each semester with awards for achieving the highest scholastic average: a 4.0 GPA. For the Class of 2023, 10 Broad Spartans were honored on the list of 62 graduates:

• Nathaniel I. Dantzer, a marketing senior
• Tyler Z. Huebner, an accounting senior
• Songyang Ma, a finance senior
• Leland R. Macke, a supply chain management senior
• Tyler K. Mussen, a finance senior
• Miquela E. Ochoa, a hospitality business senior
• Jay V. Stevons, a supply chain management senior
• Qinyue Sun, a finance senior
• Thomas D. Zegunis, a supply chain management senior
• Xingyuan Zhu, a supply chain management senior

As with each commencement celebration, this time is filled with accomplishment, pride and gratitude. We know that these newly minted graduates will transform into the next generation of problem solvers, creators and leaders — inspiring the future of business. Best wishes to all graduating Broad Spartans in the Class of 2023.

Relive the celebration by viewing recordings of the livestreamed events at commencement.msu.edu.