Senior Aaron Keathley made university history this year when he became Wayne State’s first-ever Marshall Scholarship recipient, receiving a $100,000 award for graduate studies in the United Kingdom after he graduates in May. He is the only student in Michigan awarded in the 2023 class. The Marshall Scholarship is one of the most highly competitive in the world, awarding $100,000 to up to 50 students. This year, of 951 candidates, only 40 were selected.

Sophomore Justin Nelson admits that when he told his parents he was going to attend Wayne State University, they weren’t super enthusiastic. Nelson is from Muskegon and Detroit was a long way from home. Fast forward a few years, and Nelson’s parents are amazed by opportunities he’s had at Wayne State and were blown away when he recently informed them that he was awarded one of NASA’s Michigan Space Grant Consortium’s Faculty Led Fellowships for Undergraduates. “My parents have been incredibly supportive,” Nelson said. “I called them after I found out about the fellowship, and now they are Wayne State's number-one fans."

Established by the Dean of Students Office, Alternative Spring Break gives Wayne State students the opportunity to spend spring break in the city, volunteering, making memories and friends, and giving back to the place so many call home. For more than 20 years, Wayne State students have participated in Alternative Spring Break Detroit (ASBD), a team-led, immersive experience that exposes Warriors to some of Detroit’s many neighborhoods. Main characters in the city’s revitalization, participants spent more than 1,000 hours volunteering at 24 service sites in the city — downtown Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck — during their 2023 spring break.

Taking spring or summer classes is a great way to stay on track to graduate in four years, allowing students to explore new and exciting academic interests or tackle those more challenging courses. In the heart of Midtown Detroit, Wayne State University offers more than 2,000 online, hybrid and in-person classes in an environment where students can learn, thrive and enjoy the city.

Samantha Dwornick is studying social work because she wants to help people — but one of the first people Dwornick is helping is herself. Being part of the social work program, Dwornick said, requires you to take a look at yourself, in hopes that the more you learn about yourself, the better you can help clients in the future.

The son of a landscaper, Noah Nicklin has never been afraid to get his hands dirty. “He makes us do our fair share of work around the house,” Nicklin said, referring to his father, Thomas. “But I will say he's never made us do it alone. He's always right there with us.” So, when Nicklin received word that he was named one of the brightest and hardest-working scholars at Wayne State University, he wanted to immediately share the news with his dad. “That was a good phone call to make,” said Nicklin.

All the way from Katy, Texas, Kalyyanee (“Kull-yah-nee”) Nanaaware (“Nuh-nah-wuh-ray”) began her journey as a future doctor in the place where her parents immigrated from India 25 years ago. Admitted to the Wayne Med-Direct scholars program in 2019 — a tuition-free B.S. to M.D. pipeline that only accepts 10 students per year — Nanaaware feels it’s fate that she’s at Wayne State. “I was born in metro Detroit,” laughed Nanaaware. “It’s a full-circle moment for sure, which is actually really beautiful.”  

They didn’t post the fastest times, yet Friday, March 31, was still a rock-solid victory for a dozen Wayne State students at Lake St. Clair Metroparks. Racing in the Eastern Great Lakes regionals of the Concrete Canoe Competition, Wayne State’s team was delighted with the performance of its 280-pound nautical vessel.

Wayne State University is making a huge commitment to Michigan students and families with the launch of the new Wayne State Guarantee, which will provide free tuition to incoming Michigan students with family incomes of $70,000 or less. Last year, 46% of first-year Wayne State students had zero out-of-pocket expenses for their tuition and fees thanks to the university’s tuition pledge programs. The Guarantee will push that number to 50%.