Oakland University student Isabel Abdal earns 2025–26 Jean Ann Miller Student Community Engagement Award

Oakland University has named Isabel Abdal, a student in the School of Health Sciences, as the recipient of the Jean Ann Miller Student Community Engagement Award for the 2025-26 academic year.

The award was established in 2026 to recognize impactful community engagement contributions that extend beyond the university. This honor reflects the student's exceptional academic, scholarly, and service activities and leadership that represent Oakland University's core values of engagement: reciprocity, reliability, respect, responsiveness, and trust.

Selected by the OU Senate Community Engagement Committee's Student Award Selection Subcommittee, Abdal was recognized for her strong record of community engagement, leadership and initiative.

Abdal co-founded and serves as president of Hearts for Hospice, a student organization established in Fall 2024 to connect students with meaningful opportunities to support hospice patients and families. Her efforts have helped create new pathways for students to become trained volunteers while strengthening relationships between the university and local health care partners.

"Isabel recognized a gap in opportunities for students to engage compassionately with hospice care and took the initiative to establish Hearts for Hospice in Fall 2024," said Michelle Davila, ND, MS, special instructor in interdisciplinary health sciences and faculty advisor for the organization. "She independently reached out to local hospice agencies, built relationships with volunteer coordinators, and created a structured pathway for students to become trained volunteers."

Through her leadership, Abdal established a strong partnership with Oakland Hospice, helping to create a bridge between students and community professionals providing compassionate end-of-life care.

"Throughout her time with Oakland Hospice and H4H, Isabel has made a meaningful impact through her dedication, professionalism, and leadership," said Jeanne Edwards, volunteer coordinator at Oakland Hospice & Oakland Home Care. "She supported patient companionship, community outreach, and program development efforts, strengthening both volunteer engagement and organizational awareness. Her commitment has been a valuable contribution to expanding our mission within the university and surrounding community."

Abdal's commitment to community engagement is closely tied to her academic and professional goals. She plans to pursue a career as a physician assistant and credits her volunteer experiences with shaping her understanding of patient-centered care.

"I have gained much knowledge about the concepts of patient-focused care, empathy, and the value of being an advocate for patients and families within the health care system," Abdal wrote in her award essay. "Working directly with hospice patients allowed me to observe patients and their families when they were experiencing some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. These experiences have reinforced my belief that working in health care is much more than just treating someone for a medical condition; it also includes providing comfort and dignity to individuals at a time when they need it most."

Balancing these responsibilities with her academic coursework has strengthened her leadership, communication and time-management skills, while reinforcing her commitment to advocacy and compassionate care.

"Instead of thinking of my classes and coursework as isolated requirements, I now view them as essential tools that will help me better serve my patients in the future," Abdal wrote.

Her work has enabled students to gain firsthand experience supporting patients and families, while helping hospice organizations expand their volunteer networks. Through her leadership, service and dedication to improving community health, Abdal has created opportunities that will continue to benefit both students and community partners for years to come. Her selection as the 2025-26 recipient of the Jean Ann Miller Student Community Engagement Award embodies the spirit of community engagement Oakland University aims to instill in all of its graduates.