Zoe Larsen, a history major from Grand Blanc, Michigan, has been named the Michigan State University Department of History’s Outstanding Senior for 2026.
This recognition reflects her academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, engagement beyond the classroom, and passion for making history accessible to the public.
Larsen discovered her love of history in high school, inspired by a passionate AP U.S. History teacher. “I’ve always been sort of an arts and humanities person,” she said. “I like reading, I like learning about people, I like talking about people—and history has always been part of that for me.”
After arriving at MSU, Larsen found that the History Department was the right fit. “I really liked it here,” she said. “The campus is beautiful, I like all of my classes, and I enjoy the people I’ve met. I think ultimately this was a really good place for me to be.”
During her time at Michigan State, Larsen balanced rigorous coursework with active involvement in the MSU Fencing Club, which she joined her freshman year after seeing a live demonstration at Sparticipation. “I think that’s part of the reason I had such a good experience here,” she reflected. “At a school this big, clubs help make it feel a little bit smaller.”
Faculty mentorship also played a pivotal role in her success. Larsen credits professors Thomas Summerhill and LaShawn Harris as particularly influential. “I’ve taken two classes with Professor Summerhill, and he’s been a great help to me academically and professionally,” she said. Professor Harris, Larsen added, “is just a wonderful human being. I loved her seminar, and I genuinely enjoyed just stopping by her office hours to talk.”
When she learned she had been named Outstanding Senior, Larsen was surprised. “I was excited and proud,” she said. “I didn’t really have time for it to sink in. I was juggling finals, fencing nationals, everything. It felt a little unreal.”
Looking ahead, Larsen plans to spend the summer working as a historic military and civilian interpreter at Fort Michilimackinac with Mackinac State Historic Parks, before beginning a master’s degree in public history at Western Michigan University. “I want to make history accessible,” she said. “Not just in the classroom. History should be something people can engage with as part of everyday life.”
Reflecting on her time at MSU, Larsen emphasized the skills she’s gained through studying history. “You learn how to research, how to think critically, how to identify bias, and how to quickly understand what really matters in a text,” she said. “Those skills apply everywhere.”
Her advice to future students is simple and heartfelt: “Choose something you’re actually passionate about. It’ll make college—and life—so much more rewarding.”