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In 1997, Steve Smith, a former MSU basketball All-American and member of the 2003 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs, donated $2.5 million towards the construction of The Clara Bell Smith Student Athlete Academic Center. This donation, in memory of his mother, Clara Bell Smith, is the largest gift ever by a professional athlete to any college or university. This donation helped fund the construction of a comprehensive study center for student athletes.
The two-story, 31,000 square foot Smith Center serves over 700 student athletes in all of MSU's Division I sports. It also houses a 210-seat auditorium, a "hall of fame" gallery, two study halls, 60 computers split between two computer labs, structured study areas, a student lounge, a conference room, four classrooms, tutoring rooms, a director's office, academic advisor offices and a reception area.
 
Student-Athlete's face a strenuous balancing act between their sport and their studies. Student-Athlete's must fit in classes, studying, practices, conditioning and social activities. The Clara Bell Smith Center provides assistance in this balancing act by providing the support and encouragement they need to accomplish their academic goals.
Housed within the Clara Bell Smith Center is the Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) department. SASS helps student-athletes reach their full potential. They offer an academic support program that assists student-athletes with the transition to college and continues that support throughout the athlete's collegiate career. Academic counseling, career exploration, planning and placement and academic assistance through tutorial programs are ways that they encourage the student's success.
College is not easy, but with hard work and dedication from both the student-athlete and the support staff, the student-athlete can have a successful college experience.
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