The Detroit Mercy Libraries, along with Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) and The Varsity News, are happy to announce the recipients of the second annual Adia J. Palmer Memorial Scholarship: Hisham Almadani, Taspiya Begum, Isabelle Francis, Cecilia Grimes, Desseray Martin and Kateri Sollars.
The scholarship was made possible through donations from UDM students, faculty and staff, as well as the friends and family of Adia J. Palmer. Palmer was a senior majoring in Communication Studies, who also worked as a library student assistant, TENN volunteer and as a Varsity News writer and photographer. She passed away unexpectedly in March 2022.
The scholarship honors Palmer’s legacy of creativity, inspiration and elevation, and her desire to make the world a better place through joy, peace and love. All six of the scholarship recipients exemplify this spirit.
Hisham Almadani, a Communication Studies major who plans to graduate next academic year, is all about “the story.” Whether it’s writing for The Varsity News, covering the esports industry or writing poetry in his Arabic mother tongue, which began when he picked up a pen in the fifth grade (before properly learning English), he has loved nothing more than telling stories.
But, Almadani said, “As much as I live by the ink of my pen, my life is not just about words – it is about the people who fill the spaces around me and in my pages,” which is one of the reasons he is also pursuing a Leadership minor and serves as co-president of Detroit Mercy’s Muslim Student Association. He creates educational videos for the club that have garnered tens of thousands of views online and serves as a social media intern for the University’s Marketing & Communications Department. “Whether on or off campus, I find purpose by being of service to others.”
Since 2021, Taspiya Begum, a Biology major, has contributed to many UDM communities, including the Chemistry Club, the Malta Volunteer Dental and Medical Clinic, TENN, Undergraduate Student National Dental Association (USNDA) and the First Gen Network. Outside of UDM, Begum is involved at her local mosque, babysitting and using her language skills – activities that have strengthened her patience, empathy and collaboration skills, all of which will be helpful on her path to dental school and as a future dentist.
“Volunteering and serving my community remind me of the importance of giving back and the fulfillment that comes from helping others,” said Begum.
A second-year Political Science and Cybersecurity major, Isabelle Francis has made the theme of radical hospitality and reaching the magis central to her learning and experience at Detroit Mercy. Francis serves as secretary – and previously served as sustainability senator – of the Student Government Association, and is also involved with the Political Science Student Association and Ethics Bowl. However, the experience she has had raising awareness of food injustice and sustainability through her volunteer work at TENN has influenced how she envisions her work and life after graduation.
“My plans are to go to law school and practice cyberlaw and intellectual property law. I also plan to go to graduate school for cybersecurity,” said Francis. “I hope to make sustainable and environmental change outside of TENN when I graduate using the knowledge of food injustice I have learned to create a more environmentally friendly community.”
Cecilia Grimes, a Psychology major, has been a friendly and familiar face at the McNichols Campus Library since her first year at the University. In her role as a library assistant, Grimes is a calm and collaborative presence helping at the circulation desk and with interlibrary loan (ILL). When not volunteering at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen or working as a restaurant host, she attends Black Student Union meetings and regularly takes part in campus fundraisers.
“In the future I want to get my master’s in Clinical Psychology. Psychology is something that I have always loved,” said Grimes. “I love helping people by giving them an outlet to talk about anything and everything. Being a listener is one of my best qualities.”
A Communication Studies major, Desseray Martin has a passion for meeting new people and creating memorable moments. A Varsity News staffer, she is also an in-arena host for live athletic games, a role that requires her to engage with fans and bring energy to the crowd and events. She also serves as president of Section 313, a vibrant organization that drives fan activities, builds camaraderie and enlivens team spirit.
While her professional goal is to work in sports media as a broadcaster, Martin said that writing will always be one of her top interests. “From self-expression to advocacy and empowerment, all are encompassed in writing. I am deeply committed to creating spaces for myself and others where language inspires sharing our unique stories. I am writing either to motivate, inform or encourage.”
Over the past few years, Kateri Sollars, a Psychology major with minors in Women’s and Gender Studies and Creative Writing, realized she has a passion for journalism, interviewing people and listening to their stories. She started writing for The Varsity News “for fun,” and was later convinced by Assistant Professor of Communication Studies and Varsity News Advisor David Cassilo to take it as a class, despite her packed schedule. Since then, she has gone on to enhance her interviewing – and social – skills as co-host, alongside University Minister for Faith Formation Anna Bryson, of the What’s the Tea with Ministry? podcast.
These skills come in handy in Sollars’ extracurricular life as well. As president of the Black Student Union, she hosts events like the Pajama Mixer, works in the Admissions Office and serves as a sacristan in the Chapel. About this last experience, she said, “Being able to serve my campus church brings me a lot of peace and strengthens my connection to my religion. I have also formed a lot of valuable relationships as a sacristan at UDM.” Sollars hopes to secure an internship at the Detroit Free Press upon graduation and will begin graduate school in fall 2025.
Whether these recipients plan to use their scholarships for books, course materials or to otherwise ease financial constraints on their educational journeys, we can’t wait to see the difference they make in our communities and the world! Congratulations to these inspirational Titans!
