Meet the Homecoming Court

July 21, 2020

Each year a group of extraordinary students are selected to represent their university on the Homecoming Court. The 2020-2021 Homecoming Court has been carefully selected from a highly qualified group of candidates and we are excited to introduce this group to the Spartan community.

Representing Michigan State University on the Homecoming Court is considered one of the highest honors for MSU seniors. The following students were selected based on their ability to exemplify the qualities of leadership, spirit, integrity and achievement through their contributions and involvement at MSU. They demonstrate what it means to be a Spartan – which is an especially daunting task given the constant changes surrounding this year's events and traditions.

Through all the uncertainty, cancelled events and difficult times, these students have been flexible and understanding. The Alumni Office and Homecoming Court Advisors are grateful and excited to work with this extraordinary group.

Please join us in congratulating the new Homecoming Court!

 

Andrea Bair, Buchanan, Michigan

Andrea Bair is a senior at MSU from Buchanan, Michigan. Bair is majoring in world politics with a minor in international development and political economy. During her time on campus, she has held an active role in several student organizations. She currently serves as the Chief of Staff for ASMSU where she oversees a 60 person staff to provide services to students and advocate for their interests. Bair has demonstrated her commitment to the university through her role as President of the Junior Class Council where she helps to organize events for her peers and represents their interests, as well as through her involvement in the University Council and the College of Social Science Dean’s Student Advisory Council. Bair also currently is an Undergraduate Learning Assistant for the MSU Department of Political Science, has worked as a Campus Tour Guide and was a Lead Caller for MSU Greenline.

 

Abii-Tah Bih, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Abii-Tah Bih is a senior in the Honors College from Yaoundé, Cameroon double majoring in international relations and comparative cultures and politics. Bih is actively involved in her community and in international affairs. She co-founded the Displaced, Not Defeated Peace Project in Kribi, Cameroon which has raised over $11,000 to construct and equip work centers for internally displaced women and released war prisoners. In addition, she had the opportunity to intern at the United Nations Headquarters in Yaoundé Cameroon where she facilitated communication both within UN branches and to the Ministry of External Relations. On campus, she is the Vice President of the African Students Leadership Association, a James Madison College Representative for ASMSU and a teaching assistant for the James Madison College. She has participated in various speaking engagements abroad and at MSU. She was selected from a pool of 169 MSU professors and students to address sexual violence and was a keynote speaker at the Education First Educational Tours Student Leaders Summit in the Netherlands.

 

Brandon Crawford, West Bloomfield, Michigan

Brandon Crawford is a senior from West Bloomfield, Michigan. Crawford is a member of the Honors College majoring in advertising management with a double minor in public relations and leadership of organizations. During his freshman year, he became actively involved in the University Activities Board (UAB) where he was a member of the events, marketing and graphics committees. Since then, he has served as an Events Director for UAB, planning and executing events for the Spartan community, as well as the Marketing Director, managing social media accounts with a combined following of over 17,000 users and collaborating with other directors on marketing campaigns. Crawford has gained professional experience through his position as a social media intern for SMZ Advertising. In this role, he was able to assist in the development of social media content for over 6 clients. On campus, Crawford is also involved in the Wharton Center Student Marketing Organization and Delta Lambda Phi fraternity, and previously involved in the West Circle LGBTQ+ caucus and the Public Relations Student Society of America.

 

Rachel Anne Harman, Williamston, Michigan

Rachel Anne Harman is a senior from Williamston, Michigan. Harman is a student in the Honors College majoring in Human Resource Management and minoring in Leadership in Integrated Learning. During her time at MSU, Harman has gained a great deal of professional experience in the Human Resources field through her multiple internship experiences. She has worked as a Student HR Assistant for MSU, both an HR BP Intern and a HR Operations intern for Textron, and most recently as an HR Talent Acquisition Intern for Systems. On campus, Harman is a member of the Residential Business Community, the Asian Pacific American Student Organization, the Bailey Scholars Program, the Honors College Students of Color Community and was selected as the MSU nomination for the national Leadershape Institute. She has also been able to impact the Spartan Community through her work as a Resident Assistant advocating for more education on diversity and promoting an inclusive environment, a CSE 101 tutor, and as a Residential Business Community Mentor.

 

Alia Jones, Canton, Michigan

Alia Jones is a senior from Canton, Michigan. Jones is majoring in humanities-pre-law with a minor in African American and African studies. Jones is part of the Citizen Scholars Program through the College of Arts and Letters which has ignited her passion and appreciation for art and culture through its emphasis on service learning and cross-cultural engagement. Jones has contributed a great deal to the MSU community through her role as a campus tour guide since her freshman year and more recently through her position as a Resident Assistant. She has also been able to have a direct impact on the Spartan community through her position as an undergraduate representative for both the College Advisory Committee in the College of Arts and Letters and the University Academic Grievances Hearing Board in the Dean of Students Office. Jones has gained many professional and service learning experiences in her time at MSU including opportunities to represent MSU all over the world. She worked as a digital marketing coordinator for 3M in Sydney, Australia, a teacher and volunteer for a fifth grade classroom in San Ignacio, Belize and a Communications intern for MSU Human Resources in East Lansing, Michigan.

 

Jasmine Jordan, Detroit, Michigan

Jasmine Jordan is from Detroit, Michigan. Jordan is an Honors College student majoring in political science with minors in educational studies and African and African American studies. During her time at MSU, Jordan had many enriching experiences. Academically, Jordan obtained valuable research experience in history, political science and education. She also studied abroad in Oxford, England. Through her leadership positions, Jordan demonstrates the impact of community service at MSU. She was chosen to be an Executive Board member of Tower Guard, which is a student organization dedicated to helping the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities. Additionally, Jordan continues to serve as a member of the Council of Students with Disabilities. She is also an active member and treasurer of the Black Alumni Student Association.

 

Jordan Polk, Detroit, Michigan

Jordan Polk is an MSU student from Detroit, Michigan. She is an Honors College student majoring in both economics and statistics with a minor in quantitative data analytics and leadership in integrated learning. Polk combined her educational background with her passions to educate the MSU community and is currently the ASMSU Vice President for Finance and Operations. She developed an interest in finance and gained experience as a Financial Markets Institutes Scholar and a Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Scholar. Using her knowledge, Polk spoke on various MSU student panels speaking on the topic women in finance. She is also the Co-founder and President for MSU Alternative Investments Group. On campus, Polk participated in events that educated the community while also promoting inclusion. Her position as an Intercultural Aide gives her the opportunity to engage with fellow students. She hosted MRULE round-table discussions which challenged individual perspectives as they explored various topics. As an active student body member, she continues to achieve her goal of integrating communities with diverse backgrounds.

 

Joey Pinakidis, Arlington Heights, Illinois

Joey Pinakidis is an Honors College senior from Arlington Heights, Illinois studying mechanical engineering with a concentration is aerospace. In 2019, Pinakidis had the honor of being given the title of the Outstanding College Student Engineer of the Year by the Engineering Society of Detroit. This award is given to a select number of students each year who have distinguished themselves in the engineering community. During his time at MSU, Joseph founded the Chicagoland Spartan Student Organization, which helps to support current MSU students who come from Chicago or the state of Illinois to help them as they transition to a new environment. Pinakidis is also active in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers serving as the Vice President, and a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. During the fall semester of the 2019-2020 academic year, Pinakidis, had the incredible opportunity to intern at the NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia. He has demonstrated Spartans commitment to service by volunteering in the Lansing community, at Habitat for Humanity and during Girls STEM Day.

 

Kellie Walker, Austin, Texas

Kellie Walker is a senior from Austin, Texas. She majors in biochemistry and molecular biology, minors in bioethics and is in the Honors College and Osteopathic Medical Scholars Program. Walker serves various groups on campus and aims to protect the interest of all students. She is the President of the Council of Students with Disabilities. She further brought inclusion to campus as a representative at the National Student Leadership Diversity Convention in 2018. Walker continues her education as a Research Assistant for the Department of Communicative Sciences. Professionally, she has works as an Emergency Medical Technician for MedStar Ambulance. She served as a HCIMPACT Program Mentor easing the transition for incoming honors students in 2018 and did the Euroscholars study abroad program in Zurich, Switzerland where she did research on bromodomain proteins in synovial fibroblasts of rheumatoid arthritis patients in 2019. While on campus, Walker continuously focused on helping others pursue their education while overcoming barriers.

 

Atiya Whitehead, Detroit, Michigan

Atiya Whitehead is a senior from Detroit, Michigan studying mathematics. Whitehead clearly demonstrates the importance of service and her commitment to the community through her involvement in various service-based organizations. As a member of both Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, and Alpha Phi Omega Community Service Fraternity, Whitehead has been active on campus and in the community. Whitehead has participated in the Black Power Rally which occurs annually to acknowledge issues in the black community, as well as Spartython, a dance marathon that raises money and awareness for Sparrow Hospital. She is a mentor for Project Big Sister which seeks to help young women advance both professionally and personally through mentorship, sisterhood and service. In addition to her commitment to supporting those in need, she is an undergraduate teaching assistant for the mathematics department at MSU.

Author: Aimee Klevorn