As a new academic year begins at Michigan State University, Senior Director Laurel Ofstein reflects on the Burgess Institute’s impact over the past year and the opportunities ahead this fall.
Every year, I assume our students will accomplish great things, and still every year, they surprise me by going above and beyond. Some of the moments I’m most proud of began with a student deciding to try something new, an idea, an introduction or an opportunity that led somewhere unexpected. As we begin another academic year, it feels like the right time to celebrate where those moments took us and look ahead to what might come next.
Our 2025-26 Annual Report and Impact Report provide a look back all that we accomplished together last year. The reports capture significant growth across our programs, but the impact extends beyond the numbers. Students pursued ideas, faculty created opportunities to think differently, and alumni, mentors, donors and partners gave their time, experience and support. Together, they show what is possible when people across MSU invest in our students and in one another.
That certainly didn’t stop when classes ended in May. This summer, Spartans earned the top prize at University Pitch Madness for the third consecutive year, while others put their entrepreneurial skills into practice in very different ways. Katyra Waller gained hands-on startup experience through our Spartans for Startups Internship Program, Kyli Corder spent six weeks developing her startup through the MOMENTUM Accelerator, and Jade McLellan brought what she learned during her internship at Dawn Foods back to her own venture. I love that these experiences look so different because they illustrate something I hope every student understands. There isn’t one path for an entrepreneurial Spartan.
That’s why it matters that students can find entrepreneurship at MSU in different ways. Some come to us ready to build a venture, while others want to develop new skills or explore an idea for the first time. As the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Minor and Venture Creation Program continue to grow, so does the network of faculty, advisors and program liaisons who connect students across colleges and disciplines to these opportunities. Entrepreneurship at MSU is, and should be, for every Spartan.
I’m genuinely excited about what we have planned this fall. Venture Summit will bring our community together to explore building and scaling food and consumer packaged goods ventures. Our Innovate State Speaker Series will bring accomplished entrepreneurs and innovators to campus for candid conversations about the experiences and lessons that shaped their journeys, while 2DAY VENTURE will give students a weekend to see where an idea might take them. We’ll also travel across the country to connect with Spartan entrepreneurs and alumni and continue growing the Spartan Founders Club.
If you’re already connected with the Burgess Institute, I hope we see more of you this year. If you aren’t, I hope you find a reason to join us. Attend an event, introduce a student to an opportunity, share your experience, connect with us when we visit your city or bring someone new along with you. Some of the best opportunities begin with an introduction or invitation.
If the past year taught me anything, it’s that we can’t always predict where an idea or opportunity will lead. I’m grateful to everyone who helped make those opportunities possible last year, and I’m excited to see what Spartans Will build this year.