Each year, the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation awards scholarships to Spartans who are pursuing entrepreneurship, developing new ideas and building the skills to turn those ideas into action. The 2026–27 recipients represent a range of majors and experiences, from student founders growing ventures to Spartans discovering how entrepreneurship fits into their own path.
“Every year, I’m reminded of how many different ways our students find their way into entrepreneurship, said Laurel Ofstein, senior director of the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. These scholarships give students the support to pursue their ideas and interests while reflecting the belief our alumni and supporters have in what our students can do.”
“Receiving the James Ian Gray Scholarship means so much more to me than financial support. It represents being recognized as someone who is actively turning ideas into something real, said Kyli Corder. “To receive a scholarship honoring someone who helped build the foundation for innovation at MSU makes me incredibly proud to be part of that legacy.”
Made possible through the generosity of alumni and supporters, these scholarships give students the opportunity to continue pursuing their ideas and building the skills to succeed.
Bradbury Endowed Scholarship for Student Entrepreneurship
Linh Nguyen, Eli Broad College of Business
James Ian Gray Scholarship for Entrepreneurial Studies
Kyli Corder, College of Communications Arts & Sciences
John K. Sears Memorial Scholarship
Abram Gingrass, Eli Broad College of Business
Kaufman Family Endowment Scholarship for Entrepreneurial Studies
Dallas DeBernadi, Eli Broad College of Business
Kelly A. Ford Technology Fund
Owen Youngblood, Eli Broad College of Business
Mark & Marcia Hooper Entrepreneurial Scholarship
Peter Pena, College of Engineering
Mark F. Rieth Scholarship Endowment for Entrepreneurial Studies
David Lalaj, Eli Broad College of Business
Owen/Willard Student Entrepreneurship Scholarship
Alexander Hasbscheid, College of Natural Science
Simpson-Birkestrand Endowed Scholarships for Entrepreneurs
Abram Gingrass, Eli Broad College of Business
Kaylie Livingston, Eli Broad College of Business
Alina Morse, Eli Broad College of Business
Spartan Founders Club Scholarship
Ahmed Abushama, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Julius Ash, College of Communications Arts & Sciences
Kruti Bommaraju, College of Social Science
Eden Pomp, College of Social Science
Lorenzo Ruma, College of Engineering
Dan Sagher, College of Engineering
Krrish Seth, College of Engineering
Anderson Stone Lovett, Eli Broad College of Business
Natalia Torres, College of Communications Arts & Sciences
Kaleah Valera, College of Communications Arts & Sciences
The Spartan Founders Club brings together MSU alumni and supporters who invest in the next generation of Spartan entrepreneurs.
"Being a Founders Club Scholar means having people who've already built something believe in what I'm building,” said Julius Ash, founder of Zero State, a sparkling functional beverage. “Knowing MSU alumni and entrepreneurs are investing in me gives me the confidence and the support to turn Zero State from an idea into a real Michigan-made brand.”
The 2026–27 scholarship recipients reflect the many ways Spartans are engaging with entrepreneurship at MSU. Each is putting their interests and experiences to work in different ways. Behind their experiences are alumni and supporters who choose to invest in Spartan students. Their investment gives students the resources and room to pursue an idea, build something of their own, and learn through the process.
About the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is the destination where students launch high-impact, entrepreneurial journeys at Michigan State University. The Burgess Institute empowers students to learn through action by providing global mentors, courses, seed funding, entrepreneurship competitions, student organizations, resources, and campus-wide co-working spaces.