Alexander Gilstorf’s path was made possible by the Wayne State Guarantee

Alexander Gilstorf poses with Ned Staebler, VP for economic development and president/CEO of TechTown, who has praised Gilstorf as "a great team player who asks great questions and thinks strategically about the big picture."

DETROIT - When Alexander Gilstorf stood before Wayne State University's Board of Governors on April 24, he wasn't just telling his story. He was showing what becomes possible when financial barriers to college are removed.

Just a few years earlier, that moment would have been hard to imagine.

Gilstorf grew up facing challenges that made higher education feel out of reach. Diagnosed at a young age with a rare condition on the autism spectrum, he also experienced instability at home. His father's repeated incarcerations and his mother's long-term disability after nine back surgeries created constant uncertainty. At one point, his family lost their home and moved in with relatives.

"In that environment, college didn't feel like an option," he said.

That changed late in high school at Dearborn Heights Crestwood, when he discovered economics. The subject gave him a new way to understand the world around him, and around the same time, his counselor introduced him to the Wayne State Guarantee.

Alexander Gilstorf speaks with Wayne State Vice President and General Counsel Michael Poterala before the start of the Board of Governors meeting on April 24.

The program, which covers full tuition for eligible students, gave Gilstorf a clear path forward. So, standing at the podium in front of the Board, his message was simple: The Wayne State Guarantee is about opportunity.

"If it weren't for the Guarantee, I probably wouldn't be a student here today," he told the Board.

The impact went beyond access. It created stability.

Without the burden of tuition, Gilstorf has been able to focus on building a full college experience. Now a junior majoring in mathematical economics with minors in political science and urban studies, he has taken on leadership roles across campus. He helped start an economics club, serves as a student ambassador, and joined Student Senate as senator at large and director of community affairs. Today, he represents students on the Board of Governors' Budget, Finance and Personnel Committee.

He also gained hands-on experience beyond campus.

Through an internship with the City of Detroit, Gilstorf worked on economic development projects alongside local and state partners, helping connect policy decisions to real impacts in neighborhoods.

Those opportunities, he said, are directly tied to being able to attend Wayne State in the first place.

"I know that if it weren't for Wayne State, I would never have had those opportunities," he said.

His story came full circle in the Student Center Ballroom, the same space where he first visited campus as a high school student attending a Wayne State Guarantee event on March 13, 2023. This time, he stood at the podium, sharing his experience with university leadership.

Moments later, he stepped into a different role.

A headshot of Alexander Gilstorf appears on the jumbo screen labeled "WSU Guarantee Student Spotlight" during the Wayne State University Board of Governors meeting on April 24 in the Student Center Building.

After addressing the Academic and Student Affairs Committee, Gilstorf took his seat at the board table as a student representative. The transition was subtle but meaningful, from sharing his experience as a student to helping shape decisions that affect others like him.

"It felt very real," he said afterward. "I've never shared my story publicly like that … it felt like a relief."

Gilstorf's journey also reflects progress at home. Despite years of chronic pain and limited mobility, his mother is now pursuing her own Wayne State degree and is set to graduate from the Mike Ilitch School of Business in December.

For him, the Wayne State Guarantee created a path forward when there wasn't one.

Now, he plans to continue his studies in economics and pursue a career as a policy analyst, focused on helping communities like his own.