Oliver Snelling is a graduating senior studying Criminal Justice at Michigan State University and the School of Criminal Justice’s 2025 Outstanding Senior.
Oliver Snelling has always been passionate about helping his local community; to ensure his community felt safe and protected. This passion led Snelling to pursue a degree in criminal justice, saying “it is a field that allows me to contribute to meaningful, positive change.”
Snelling is graduating with a bachelor's in criminal justice and a minor in peace and justice studies. Aside from his academic pursuits, Snelling has dedicated a significant portion of his time at Michigan State University (MSU) to volunteering at food banks, helping with the Welcome to Baker Hall event, and serving on the College of Social Science’s Dean’s Student Advisory Council. He has also served as MSU’s Chapter President of Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society.
Snelling describes his time at MSU as transformative and that earning a degree in Criminal Justice has given him a deeper understanding of how the legal system functions and the complexities of law enforcement. Snelling also says that the faculty and staff (especially the advising staff) support available at MSU has been critical to his success.
Regarding being named Outstanding Senior, Snelling says “receiving this award feels incredibly humbling and rewarding. It’s a recognition of all the hard work I've put into my studies and extracurricular activities throughout my time here at MSU. I’m grateful for the opportunities that led me here and I’m excited for the future.”
Snelling says his favorite part of being a student at MSU has been meeting people from all walks of life and connecting with other students at events across campus, such as Sparticipation and Career Fairs. He says that the thing that makes students at MSU wonderful is that they are always ready to lend a helping hand to their fellow classmates.
Snelling’s recommendation for any student studying criminal justice is to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way; to not be discouraged by competition or the odds of success; and to always put themselves out there and take the chance to connect with as many people as possible.