Henry Ford College Alumna Receives Distinguished Alumni Award at Commencement Ceremony on May 6

The 2017 HFC Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented to Mona Markabani, a 2014 HFC graduate, at HFC’s morning Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 6, at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn.

Markabani, of Ferndale, has been working in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) profession since 2014 and has been a professional firefighter since 2015. Currently, she works at the Ferndale Fire Dept. (FFD).

HFC Vice President of Development A. Reginald Best will present this award to Markabani.

“I am very honored to be the one to present the Distinguished Alumni Award to Mona Markabani. Ms. Markabani is a leader and a trailblazer in the firefighting profession. She is new to the profession and has already established herself as a leader. I speak on behalf of my colleagues when I say that I am proud to call her a graduate of HFC,” said Best.

A 2009 alumna of Fordson High School in Dearborn, Markabani earned her associate degree in Applied Science/Paramedic from HFC. During her time at HFC, she was the chairwoman of the Paramedic Program’s Hospitality Committee and held the first emergency medical services (EMS) bake sale, raising $100 that was donated to the Dearborn Fire Dept.’s (DFD) burn drive.

After graduating from HFC, Markabani attended the Schoolcraft College Fire Academy in Livonia, where she was the first Arab American female and the second female guidance officer. This position entailed her taking on a leadership role for the entire class, as well as making sure all of the instructors’ tasks and orders were being followed to completion. She graduated from Schoolcraft in late 2014 with certifications of Firefighter I and II.

In 2015, Markabani became the first Arab American, the second woman and the youngest person to ever join the Lincoln Park Fire Dept. (LPFD). Prior to joining the LFPD, Markabani worked as an emergency medical technician (EMT) and paramedic for HealthLink in Taylor.

Born in Germany to Lebanese parents, Markabani moved to Dearborn when she was a toddler. During an assembly at Miller Elementary School in Dearborn, a female firefighter spoke about her job, which inspired Markabani to pursue this career path at the age of 7.

“I didn’t know women could be firefighters. It was very inspirational. That really stuck with me. I was like, ‘I’m so doing that,’” said Markabani.