Michigan State University awarding three slain students with posthumous degrees

Krystal Nurse, Lansing State Journal
·3 min read
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EAST LANSING — The three students killed in the mass shooting at Michigan State University will be honored with posthumous degrees this week.

Families of Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser and Alexandria Verner will accept the bachelor's degrees from the students' respective colleges, MSU Deputy Spokesperson Dan Olsen said last week.

Anderson and Verner will receive bachelor of science degrees from the College of Natural Science and Fraser will receive a bachelor of arts degree from the Eli Broad College of Business, all on Saturday.

Graduation ceremonies are planned for May 4-13 at the Breslin Student Events Center, 534 Birch Rd., and Wharton Center for Performing Arts, 750 E. Shaw Ln., in East Lansing.

College-specific ceremonies will occur from May 5-7 and May 12-13. More information is available at commencement.msu.edu.

"This time calls for celebrations for our students and their families," Olsen said. "One of the ways we are remembering the violence and students, we will have moments of silence for the university-wide convocations."

More: Michigan State University commencement: What to know

Anderson had 'quiet confidence'

Arielle Anderson, of Harper Woods, was one of the three victims of the February mass shooting at Michigan State University, Her family will accept a posthumous degree this week.
Arielle Anderson, of Harper Woods, was one of the three victims of the February mass shooting at Michigan State University, Her family will accept a posthumous degree this week.

Anderson's Harper Woods family told the Detroit Free Press earlier this year that she had her heart set on an early graduation to become a surgeon. She was a sophomore at MSU.

Anderson, 19, embraced her middle name "Diamond," said Roy Bishop Jr., deputy superintendent for educational services for Grosse Pointe Public Schools. Anderson went to Parcells Middle School and graduated from Grosse Pointe North High School in 2021. Before that, she attended kindergarten to the sixth grade in the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

More: Mourners say their final goodbye to MSU shooting victim Arielle Anderson

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, speaking at Anderson's funeral, said what struck her the most about the teen was her "quiet confidence and loud compassion," because of her desire to put family first and become a doctor one day. Her future, Whitmer said, was robbed from her by a "senseless act of violence."

Fraser was 'hard to not like'

Brian Fraser, a sophomore from Grosse Pointe, was killed in the mass shooting on the Michigan State University. He will be honored with a posthumous degree this week.
Brian Fraser, a sophomore from Grosse Pointe, was killed in the mass shooting on the Michigan State University. He will be honored with a posthumous degree this week.

Fraser, 20, a sophomore at Michigan State, graduated from Grosse Pointe South in 2021 and attended St. Paul on the Lake's school through eighth grade.

Rev. Jim Bilot during the funeral service described Fraser as a "charismatic, smiling, humorous, good-natured young man," who was "hard to not like."

More: Mourners gather to remember students killed in Michigan State University shooting spree

Fraser was president of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity chapter at MSU. Bilot urged Fraser's fraternity brothers, classmates, family and friends to move forward with confidence, not with fear.

"To the community of Michigan State University, my heart just goes out to so many that are affected by this," Bilot said. "But to the students, to the frat brothers, please go back. Go back with determination. Go back with the confidence of the spirit of his love, of God's love ... that you ... are not going to allow evil to disperse you, to make you be fearful.

'A phenomenal human being'

Alexandria "Alex" Verner, a junior at Michigan State University who graduated from Clawson High School in 2020.
Alexandria "Alex" Verner, a junior at Michigan State University who graduated from Clawson High School in 2020.

Clawson Public Schools Superintendent Billy Shellenbarger described Verner to the Free Press as having "high character, kindness, a giver, so well-mannered, always smiling.

“She defined what being a phenomenal human being was all about,” he said. “Adults looked up to her because of it — I looked up to her.”

More: Michigan State shooting victim Alexandria Verner was all-state athlete, leader

Verner, 20, graduated from Clawson High School in 2020 and was a junior at MSU Shellenbarger added she was an athlete, holding accolades in softball, basketball and volleyball. She served on Clawson's student leadership council and was in the National Honor Society.

One former classmate, Tristen Perry, remembered Verner as the “good girl” who kept “everyone in check” when “they were doing stupid stuff.”

The Detroit Free Press contributed.

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Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at 517-267-1344 or knurse@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @KrystalRNurse.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Three slain MSU students to receive posthumous degrees