“Those moments that don’t defeat us define us,” he said. “You will fail at something, you will lose, you will suck. The question is, how high will you bounce up when you fall?”
Leaning into his superhero theme, Qualman led the students through a power pose they can use to boost confidence and reduce stress throughout the body. Qualman also distributed a pair of neon green sunglasses for each graduate — a nod to his own signature superhero look as Equalman.
“If you never take that step forward, then you’re always in the same place,” he said, noting how it took him 15 years to embrace being Equalman and stepping into his own story. “Have the courage to step into your story. It’s uncomfortable at first but the most comfortable in the long term.”
Broad alumnus Jerry Jonckheere (B.A. Accounting ’81) was also recognized at the ceremony for the profound impact he has had on the college and the community where he lives. Jonckheere, retired partner at Plante Moran, received the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award, recognizing his career successes and his dedicated involvement and leadership with West Michigan Spartans.
Milestone achievements
Many students in the Class of 2023 accomplished exceptional things during their time at MSU and especially throughout their senior year. A record 34 business students received Board of Trustees Awards for completing their degrees with a 4.0 GPA, and finance senior Sean Gordon received the 2023 Saber Award, making him the top Army ROTC cadet in the state of Michigan.
In the world of golf, supply chain management senior Valery Plata spent her senior year competing in the LPGA and crossed the stage as a professional golfer, graduating finance senior Parker Jamieson earned MSU Athletics’ President’s Award — its most prestigious academic honor — and finance and psychology senior Andrew Hendren finished his time at MSU with the James D. Standish Award for his outstanding efforts as an Evans Scholar and caddie.
Supply chain management senior Carlos Conrad highlighted the determined spirit of the graduating class as he addressed his peers as this year’s student speaker.
“Our entire college experience has been unconventional,” he said, noting specific challenges like a fully remote learning environment during the pandemic. “Throughout it all, we proved that we are strong together. Resiliency is the recurring motif for the Class of 2023, and Spartans will be resilient no matter where our lives take us.”
Bestselling author Erik Qualman (B.A. Marketing ’94) addressed more than 990 undergraduates at the Broad College’s ceremony on May 6.
Qualman's interactive speech had a superhero theme. He led students through a power pose and distributed a pair of neon green sunglasses for each graduate — a nod to his own signature look.
This year, more than 330 master’s and doctoral program graduates earned degrees from the Broad College.
Jerry Jonckheere (B.A. Accounting ’81) was recognized at the ceremony with the college's Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award, presented by Interim Dean Judith Whipple.
