Spartans give the gift of competition
Student athletes triumph in their sport and in life at MSU
Spartans give the gift of competition
Student athletes triumph in their sport and in life at MSU
February 10, 2025Selecting MSU as the place to grow as a student-athlete was an easy choice for Katie Lu. After looking at college golf programs across the country since she was a high school sophomore in Plainsboro, N.J., on her first visit to MSU she found she finally felt at home.
This sense of belonging came from the excellent athletic programs that build the Spartan spirit. “Everyone's really just one big family here and I felt so welcomed,” says Katie. “We have one of the best golf facilities in the Big 10, in the Midwest, because of donors and because of the past players that paved the way for us.”
According to Katie, Golf Head Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll emphasizes the importance of personal and academic growth first, followed by athletics.
This holistic focus has strengthened Katie’s game and helped shape who she is a person, and her studies as a finance major in the Broad College of Business. She is a WGCA All-American Scholar, a Big-Ten Distinguished Scholar and has been named to the All-Big Ten Conference First Team.
With the skills and networks she has developed as a Spartan, she is ready for the future and believes she is a part of something even bigger than golf. She plans to play golf professionally after graduation and looks forward to being a part of Spartan generosity.
“We've been surrounded by all these Spartans giving back, and it’s really inspired me. I want to make some kind of difference,” she says.
One of Katie’s unforgettable memories was when the women's golf team won the 2023 NCAA Palm Beach Regional played at PGA National – the Spartan’s first NCAA Regional win in program history. As the team traveled across the country to many tournaments, Katie felt supported and inspired by the Spartans who come to watch the tournaments and who make gifts to the team.
“You're definitely making an impact on a lot of young people's lives,” she says.
Interested in helping student-athletes thrive on Give Green Day this year? Learn more at givingday.msu.edu
