Freshman Warrior M.D. Class of 2026 student Tareq Hanna has won the Wayne State University Alumni Association’s 2022 Howard A. Donnelly Award, given to two undergraduates considered to have made outstanding contributions to the university in areas of leadership and service while maintaining high scholarship during undergraduate studies.
Hanna, a first-year physician-in-training at the WSU School of Medicine, was a member of the Irvin D. Reid Honors College as an undergraduate, and in May received a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with a minor in chemistry.
He served as an organic chemistry peer mentor, as well as a research assistant at the Parkinson’s Disease Lab. Hanna has volunteered with the Wayne Health Mobile COVID-19 Testing Team, in the emergency room at Beaumont Hospital – Farmington Hills, and served as president of the Detroit Diabetes Association. He has been involved with the National Arab American Medical Association’s Wayne State chapter, expanding student opportunities and serving as collaboration chair.
The Howard A. Donnelly Award was established in 1927 at the request of Donnelly, a longtime WSU supporter. The award is given annually to two selected candidates who will complete their bachelor's degree studies in May of that year.
“I am very honored to be recognized with this award. Looking back at the nearly century-long history of this award and all those who have received it, I cannot help but be proud to be added to this list of great alumni,” Hanna said. “Thank you to anyone who has been there for me as a friend or a mentor throughout the process -- you know who you are.”
Hanna moved to Michigan in the 2010s, after living in the Middle East and Canada.
“I loved my time at Wayne State for the previous four years so much that they couldn’t get rid of me! The medical school is known for being one of the best in the country and has a strong history of innovation in the field while training great clinicians. More than anything, I love the support system in place at WSU. They truly will not let you fail and they go the extra mile to see you succeed,” he added.
Hanna is looking forward to continuing the work he started during undergraduate studies.
“We just had our first exam, so I have quickly immersed myself academically and I am getting up to speed with the medical school lifestyle, but I am also trying to get involved outside of classes. The medical school community is just as great as the undergraduate community, so they give us lots of opportunities to get involved,” he said.