From $10 to a lasting legacy
How everyday giving makes a difference
When Mark Hanson made his first gift to Michigan State University in 1983, it wasn’t a grand gesture. It was $10.
Fresh out of graduate school, with student loans and a new career just beginning, it was simply what he could afford. But it was also the start of something much bigger. More than four decades later, that small act of giving has grown into an endowed scholarship in the College of Natural Science — one designed to support students following a path much like his own.
“The average alumni can start an endowment with a scholarship, even if you’re just
a small donor,” Hanson said. “And that’s something I didn’t always believe.”
A Foundation Built at MSU
Hanson’s journey to Michigan State wasn’t part of a grand plan. A first-generation college student from Grand Rapids, he transferred to MSU to complete his degree in physiology while preparing for optometry school. It was there that he built the academic foundation that shaped his future.
“I realized how great my education at Michigan State was,” Hanson said. “It made everything that came after easier.”
That experience also sparked a lifelong connection to the university. A devoted Spartan, Hanson has remained closely tied to MSU for decades: returning to campus often, staying engaged with the alumni community and serving as past president of the Dallas–Fort Worth MSU Alumni Association.
After earning his doctorate in optometry, Hanson built a decades-long career in Texas, owning and running his own practice. As his career progressed, so did his capacity to give, but his approach remained consistent. He simply kept showing up.
Hanson continued giving to MSU year after year, increasing his contributions gradually as his career and financial stability grew. What began as a modest annual gift became a long-term commitment. About 20 years ago, a conversation with a university representative, Karen Wenk, introduced him to the idea of establishing a scholarship.
“At the time, I said no,” Hanson said. “I thought, ‘I’m not a millionaire, I can’t do that.’”
But the idea stayed with him.
“It planted a seed,” he said. “And over time, it grew.”
Eventually, Hanson and his wife, Connie (a Spartan by marriage who also comes from
an eye care family) established the Dr. Mark R. Hanson and Connie Hanson Pre-Optometry Scholarship. Today, the fund continues to grow, with plans to support future students for years
to come.
Giving Back and Looking Ahead
For the Hansons, the scholarship is about more than financial support. It’s about opening doors.
“I want to help students like me, kids who are first in their family to go to college, kids who are motivated and just need a little support,” Hanson said.
It’s also about challenging a common misconception.
Stories about transformational, multi-million-dollar gifts often dominate headlines. While those contributions are vital, Hanson hopes his story highlights another path. That you can make a difference with consistency, patience, and long-term commitment.
“I used to think you had to be on the same level as major donors to make an impact,” he said. “And that’s just not true.”
Through steady giving over time, Hanson has created something lasting, an opportunity for future Spartans to pursue their education with fewer barriers. It’s a legacy that didn’t begin with a large donation, but with a simple decision to give what he could.
And for Hanson, that’s the point.
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