Alex Powell was an MSU student who was diagnosed with cancer during his freshman year. During a difficult time, Alex received support from MSU's Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, which provided accommodations that helped him continue his education, while he also received medical care at the University of Michigan. After Alex's passing, his parents, Steve and Juliana Powell, established Alex's Great State Race to honor his memory and bring the two universities together in support of students with disabilities.
For more than a decade, ROTC cadets from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan have carried the game ball 64-miles between the two campuses in the middle of the night before the annual rivalry football game. The journey represented sacrifice, commitment, and two rival universities coming together for something bigger than the game.
In 2026, that legacy is evolving.
The spirit behind the 64-mile journey—sacrifice, commitment, and coming together for a shared purpose—continues through What's Your 64?—a challenge inspired by Alex’s Great State Race. ROTC invites you to take on your own 64 alongside them, carry Alex’s legacy forward and help raise awareness of and support for students with disabilities. Choose your 64, complete it and pass it on to challenge someone else to participate.
