Alumnus Mohamed Talool among a select group of transfer scholars at UDM

Headshot of Mohamed Talool

HFC alumnus Mohamed Talool was grateful that he forgot to set his phone to its “Do Not Disturb” mode when he got the call that he won the Phi Theta Kappa and Jesuit Founders Scholarship from the University of Detroit Mercy, a private Catholic university in Detroit.

“I’m so glad I forgot. I was actually asleep when the call came in,” recalled Talool of Dearborn. “So, I get this call where someone from (UDM) tells me congratulations and that I won this full-ride scholarship. I had to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming.”

Fortunately, Talool wasn’t.

“I was instantly awake. I was so happy. I got up and told my family, and they were really happy, too.”

This scholarship rewards transfer students who have been academically successful and show promise of continued excellence. Recipients will receive full tuition to continue their education at UDM.

“I don’t have to worry about how to pay my tuition anymore,” said Talool. “This scholarship makes me more feel more comfortable and secure: I wouldn’t have been able to afford my education otherwise. It gives me more time to focus on my studies rather than worrying about how to pay for tuition. Now I can concentrate 100% on my education and achieve my dream of becoming a dentist.”

A positive experience with HFC instructors

Talool is the eldest of five and a first-generation college student. Fluent in English and Arabic, he was born in Yemen and moved to the United States in 2015 with his family settling in Dearborn. After graduating from Edsel Ford High School, Talool started his education at HFC upon the recommendation of his uncle, Zaid Talool, an HFC alumnus who is now an IT engineer at Amazon.

“My uncle told me it was better for me to start off at a community college because the tuition is affordable and I can get all my pre-reqs done. I like how cozy it is here,” he said. “It was easier to start at HFC. You get the feel of how things work at the college level. The professors at HFC are kind and helpful. They focus on you because classes aren’t big like they are at a major university. They want you to succeed. You can meet with them whenever you need to, and they always offer good advice. It made being a student at the College really a pleasure.”

Talool studied biology at HFC and transferred to UDM at the start of the Winter 2025 semester. During his time at HFC, he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) and maintained an overall GPA of 3.7. He spoke fondly of his experiences taking classes with HFC biology instructors Dr. Jolie Stepaniak and Magidah Alaudi.

"Mohamed is a great example of dedication and curiosity that has culminated in academic success,” said Alaudi. “I am very proud of Mohamed's progress from general biology to cell and molecular biology. I believe he will continue to succeed with all of the experiences he gains at UDM. I congratulate him on a well-deserved scholarship.”

Desire to establish dental practice in Dearborn

At UDM, Talool is majoring in pre-dental/biology. Upon graduation, he would like to attend the UDM School of Dentistry, which is one of only two dental schools in Michigan. Talool was inspired to become a dentist after witnessing some of the dental problems his mother and younger sister experienced.

“I want to be a dentist to help people with their teeth, but I also want to help them out financially as well,” he said. “A discount here and there or a payment plan would be helpful to underserved families.”

His ultimate goal is to set up his own dental practice in Dearborn.

“I want to give back to the community. Dearborn’s been really nice to me,” he said. “It’s nice when you help someone and they remember you. They feel good, you feel good – that’s what it’s all about.”

Not the first scholarship recipient

Talool is not the first HFC graduate to win the Phi Theta Kappa and Jesuit Founders Scholarship. Previous winners include:

  • Kimberlynn Debolt for the 2024-25 academic year
  • Walaa Bazoun for the 2023-24 academic year
  • Abrar Mohsen for the 2023-24 academic year
  • Sara Shannan for the 2022-23 academic year

“Congratulations to Mohamed on this scholarship,” said Janice Gilliland, Dean of the HFC School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). “It's always so rewarding to hear about the successes of HFC students after they move on from the College.”