SASS
135 Smith Center
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 355-2204
The Clara Bell Smith Center opened in the Fall of 1998. Steve Smith, former Spartan standout and NBA player, donated 2.5 million dollars and the building is named after his mother. In the past 10 years, the Smith Center has helped all student-athletes in their academic endeavors and will be celebrating its 10 Year Anniversary all year long.
Watch for the PACT Minute on Spartan Sports Zone on FSN Detroit and at basketball and hockey games this January for team accomplishments.
Team Accomplishments
Posted Highest Athletics Department Fall GPA in program history: 2.9326 (Previous Record 2.9049 (2003))
Posted Highest number of student-athletes with a Fall CUM GPA of 3.0 or higher: 333 (Previous Record 332 (2005))
Posted the Highest number of student-athletes with a Fall TERM GPA of 3.0 or higher: 348 (Previous Record 342 (2005))
Posted the Highest Number of student-athletes with a perfect 4.00 Fall TERM GPA: 49 (Previous Record 39 (1998))
Team Highlights
W-Gymnastics
Posted Highest FALL TERM GPA all time: 3.6674
Currently Carries Highest CUM Women’s Team GPA: 3.4296
M-Tennis
Currently Carries Highest CUM Men’s Team GPA: 3.2006
M-Basketball
Posted Highest Fall TERM GPA all time: 3.0212
W-Tennis
Posted Highest CUM GPA all time: 3.4261
February
In conjunction with Black History Month, the February celebration will focus on three areas:
Minority Graduates – Many minority student-athletes have used the Smith Center to assist them in reaching their ultimate goal – graduation. The following student-athletes have graduated from MSU between 1998-2008.
The Multicultural Program – This program provides student-athletes with cultural and diversity experiences and opportunities. The program is designed to allow all student-athletes the chance to participate in events that celebrate and express diversity. One of the primary goals of the program is to provide a means of support and resources to guide student-athletes on their journey towards graduation.
The Faculty-Mentor Program – As part of the Multicultural Program, student-athletes are paired with a faculty member who serves as their mentor and as a support system to give the student-athletes encouragement and guidance. The mentor also helps in the transition for the student-athlete into the collegiate environment.
At the February 20, 2008 men’s basketball game the advisory committee for the Multicultural Program will be recognized. This committee is comprised of a group of student-athletes who meet on a regular basis and come up with ideas for programs, events, activities for student-athletes and new initiatives to be formed and implemented by the group. The committee consists of:
Aisha Jefferson (Women’s Basketball)
Paris Mandy (Women's Track & Field)
Rashonda Venyah (Women’s Track & Field)
Idongesit (ID) Ibok (Men’s Basketball)
Tramonte Pointer (Football)
Jesse Miller (Football)
March
Spartan Standouts. Many people know about the great student-athletes that went on to play professional sports. However, many student-athletes have gone on to be important members of their community and will be honored in the month of March.
Click on the Sport below to find out "Where Are They Now?"
Community Service is highlighted this month. In the past 10 years, the Student-Athlete Development Program has grown into a program that has gained national recognition.
Student-athletes are involved in many different community and outreach programs throughout the school year.
Pen Pal Program: Student-Athletes serve as year-long pen pals with a classroom in the Lansing and East Lansing school districts. Every month the student-athlete writes a letter to their classroom. The children in the class then each write a letter back to their student-athlete. Teachers use the letters they receive and the letters they write back as educational lessons in reading and writing. The student-athletes also visit the classroom once during the year to meet the children and promote the importance of education and hard work. This year there are 85 student-athletes in 68 classrooms at 13 schools.
Drew Nietzel visits Whitehills Elementary School
Spartan Student-Athlete Showdown: Started in 2003, each year the student-athletes host a charity lip sync contest. Each team is responsible for selling tickets and a committee of student-athletes fundraises for the event. All of the proceeds are given to the Children’s Miracle Network at their Telethon held in June. Our student-athletes also answer phones at the telethon. The year’s event is Thursday, April 17 at 8pm.
Men’s basketball performs at last year’s Lip Sync contest
Two of the guest judges from the Children’s Miracle Network
Teams for Toys: Since 2003, every varsity team adopts a family for the holidays through the Salvation Army. They are responsible for raising money, buying and wrapping the gifts and then delivering them to the families. This year over $5000 was raised.
Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving pose with some of their gifts for Teams for Toys.
Baseball shows off their creativity with glittered stockings and gift wrapping.
Posters for Patients: Each year since 2004, our student-athletes help children draw posters of encouragement for patients at Sparrow Hospital. The elementary children come to the Clara Bell Smith Center where they receive a tour of the facility, hear from student-athletes about the importance of education, exercise, sportsmanship and giving back to the community.
The following programs were created by MSU student-athletes:
Big Brothers Program: Members of the Men’s Ice Hockey program serve as Big Brothers to Littles through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program in Lansing. This initiative was started in 2006 by former hockey players Tyler Howells and Chris Lawrence.
Senior Zak McClellan and his “Little”
Make a Change: Originated in 2007 by MSU football player John Masters, this event is organized through the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Student-athletes collect change from fans at football and men’s basketball games to raise money to help in the fight against cancer.
Hockey works the crowd before a football game for Make A Change
Spartan Buddy Program: Student-Atheltes are “buddies” with pediatric patients at Sparrow Hopsital. They must go through training on policies and procedures of the hospital and how to deal with severly ill (some terminal) children. The program was started in 2004 by former MSU and current NHL hockey player Drew Miller.
Former hockey player Drew Miller visiting with a patient at Sparrow.
Hockey players Chris Snavely and Drew Miller and ------- players pose with a patient at Sparrow. Although the program was started by a hockey player, it has expanded to include several MSU sports.
Shoot for a Cure: An offshoot of the Spartan Buddy Program, the men’s ice hockey team adopted fighting children’s cancer as a cause. On February 22 the team recognized children who have or have had cancer . Money was raised by selling t-shirts, a silent auction and “Chuck A Puck”. This program was started by current hockey player Justin Abdelkader.
September
September 20 will bring back Steve Smith and the original committee members for the Smith Center. A rededication of the Smith Center is in the works to coincide with the Notre Dame football game, the same weekend as 10 years ago.
Steve Smith, former MSU Basketball All-American
October
Many of the student-athletes who have left MSU early to pursue their professional playing careers eventually return to MSU to complete their degree. These student-athletes will be honored.
November
The Smith Center has seen its fair share of All Americans come through its doors, and this will be the month to celebrate those accomplishments.
