MSU Law Students Meet Donor Jim Seavitt

MSU Law students Byron Ennis and Christina Ramirez had the opportunity to meet Jim Seavitt, the donor whose generosity assists in making their dream of a legal education come true.

Ramirez and Ennis were just two of the seven students who were chosen for the Karl L. Seavitt Scholarship this year, which Jim Seavitt named after his father Karl L. Seavitt, a 1942 graduate of the Detroit College of Law. “There’s a lot of history between my family and Michigan State. I chose to begin this scholarship because I know my dad would still be supporting MSU Law students if he were alive.” Seavitt said, adding, “I want to help those who can’t afford to go to law school become great attorneys.”

During the meeting, the law students got to learn about Seavitt’s background and shared common interests like their favorite dog breeds and predictions for the upcoming MSU football season. They also got to learn about Seavitt’s many services and charities he funds and provides to the community.

“After talking to him and hearing why he wanted to help us out, it's just amazing,” Ennis, 1L, said. “I hope in the future I can continue to pay it forward and volunteer with his youth services.”

Because of the Karl L. Seavitt Scholarship, students like Ramirez were able to go to law school. “One of the reasons I chose Michigan State was because of the scholarship,” she said. “I’m the first generation in my family to go to college and let alone have a professional secondary degree, to be able to be someone and something that people from my background never got to be. And the fact that there is help and you don’t have to carry all of the debt with you, it makes it more possible.”

Ennis said that Seavitt’s generosity has inspired him in many ways. “When people who’ve never met you go out of their way to help you out without knowing you or knowing what you want to do in life, it’s true altruistic values and I really appreciate it,” he said. “Now I’m here and I’m looking into getting into public service and helping my fellow Americans out. I want to keep paying it forward.”