With an undergraduate education filled with four languages, two study abroad programs, community work through the Citizen Scholars program, and so many more impactful experiences, including founding the Portuguese Club, it’s fair to say Tyler Lindquist has made the most of his time at Michigan State University.
Now a senior who is graduating this May with a dual degree in Spanish and Arabic and minors in Portuguese and Russian, Lindquist is being recognized for his many achievements with the College of Arts & Letters’ 2025 Outstanding Senior Achievement Award, which is the top student award presented by the college. The award honors his academic excellence, service and leadership, and commitment to personal and professional development, cross-cultural sensitivity, and diversity.
His experience in the College of Arts & Letters was shaped by the relentless desire to challenge himself, sharpen and reform his worldview, and make a difference in the world. He also was shaped not only by the content of his courses but also by the people who guided and challenged him.
“This is the beautiful thing about this college; we are a small but tight-knit community that cooperatively works together to better serve the Spartan community and make a positive impact on the world around us.”
“Countless professors in the College of Arts & Letters have mentored, advised, and guided me regardless of whether my passions aligned with theirs,” he said. “This is the beautiful thing about this college; we are a small but tight-knit community that cooperatively works together to better serve the Spartan community and make a positive impact on the world around us.”
A Multilingual, Multicultural Education
Lindquist started his education at MSU to preserve his Spanish proficiency by majoring in Spanish and reconnect with his Russian roots with a minor in Russian. Eager to explore more languages, he later added Arabic as a second major and Portuguese as another minor. As he learned each language, Lindquist said he developed a broader, more inclusive way of thinking.
“Studying Spanish, along with all the other languages I have studied at MSU, has shaped my perspective on language, culture, and my own identity in many ways,” he said. “When an individual learns a second or third language, they inherently acquire a new lens through which to see the world in a different way. Each language has opened a new door into how I understand myself and others.”
Lindquist said each language taught him something different: Spanish helped him value multilingualism and multiculturalism in the United States. Arabic allowed him to see the world more honestly and to explore histories buried or distorted in American grade school classes, all while advancing his linguistic knowledge to new levels with the language’s intense grammar and rich vocabulary. Portuguese connected him to the Latin American cultures he had long admired. And Russian deepened his connection to his birthplace and heritage, the prejudices aligned with his homeland, and how to navigate his identity in new spaces.
“Languages have opened my eyes to the world beyond the town, state, and country in which I was raised. For this, I will be forever grateful to my college and the university as a whole because of the countless doors that have been opened for me.”
“Languages have opened my eyes to the world beyond the town, state, and country in which I was raised,” he said. “For this, I will be forever grateful to my college and the university as a whole because of the countless doors that have been opened for me.”
His passion for languages led him to more cultural exploration. He created and led the Portuguese Club, and through two study abroad programs supported by the College of Arts & Letters, he lived in Amman, Jordan, for eight weeks and in São Paulo, Brazil, for six.
“In Jordan, I learned about the culture, religion, and history of the region,” he said. “In Brazil, I was immersed in one of the largest and most complex cities in the Western Hemisphere. Both trips changed my perspective on the world and helped guide my career interests.”
A Citizen Scholar
Lindquist also joined the College of Arts & Letters’ Citizen Scholars program, which helps prepare the next generation of high-achieving citizen leaders by putting their values, skills, and practices into action. With the Citizen Scholars program, students gain experience through high-impact learning opportunities such as study abroad, undergraduate research, community outreach, and internships.
“Being a Citizen Scholar means that I am an exceptionally creative, original, and motivated student who looks beyond his own narrative to impact his community in a dynamic, innovative, and effervescent way,” he said.
Last summer, through the Citizen Scholars program, Lindquist volunteered at the Lansing Refugee Development Center. His experience there has led him to a non-governmental organization in Amman, Jordan, that supports the Sudanese refugee community where he will volunteer this summer after graduating from MSU.
“Learning through intimate interaction with both the domestic and international migrant communities will provide me with a more comprehensive understanding of their diverse experiences,” Lindquist said. “The Citizen Scholars program has transformed me into a prepared, compassionate, and devoted leader, and the program will continue to impact my personal and professional life for years to come.”
Looking Ahead
Lindquist will return to Jordan this summer to deepen his Arabic study and enhance his cultural awareness before applying to graduate programs in anthropology with a focus on acculturation and immigration.
“MSU, for me, has been the first step of many in preparation for a successful career in academia,” he said. “I will take all that I learned and continue to utilize my experiences at MSU to positively impact whatever community I find myself in.”
Whatever shape his path takes next, Lindquist remains grounded in his belief in community service.
“In the future, I hope to create more inclusive spaces for migrant communities, their livelihoods, children, and voices to be heard in our local community,” he said.
As he reflects on his time at MSU, Lindquist is filled with pride and gratitude.
“The most reward has come from finding the good in moments of adversity and relentlessly turning what might be worst-case scenario into best-case scenario,” he said. “My College of Arts & Letters education has only fortified this outlook on life and my victories.”
Now, as a Citizen Scholar and a recipient of the Outstanding Senior Achievement Award, he hopes his story encourages others to pursue their passions and challenge their assumptions.
“To incoming students: be bold, persistently generous and shamelessly ask questions,” he said. “You do not want to look back in four years with any regrets because time is fleeting; you must make the most of it. There are endless opportunities to grow during this stage of your life, so don’t hesitate to lean on those around you when you need it most and lend a hand when the opportunity arises to help another. We are all experiencing life for the first time. Treat others with grace and kindness and you’ll find life is much easier that way.”
By Austin Curtis
