Legacy of Honors

A Washington Township neighborhood 20 minutes from OU’s campus, has become home to something extraordinary – a family legacy built on education, medicine and community. Decades ago, three brothers, two physicians and a dentist, settled their families side by side. Together, they created not only a neighborhood of relatives but a shared sense of purpose that continues to inspire the next generation.

Today, eight members of the Meri family have followed that legacy into higher education through the Donna and Walt Young Honors College at Oakland University. What began as three brothers’ dream to build a life rooted in family and service, has blossomed into a dynasty of scholars, doctors and dreamers who call OU home.

Jenna’s graduation (December 2023) Left to right - Adam, Malik, Eness, Jenna and Sarah Meri

“It’s amazing,” says Jenna Meri, a 2023 graduate of the Donna and Walt Young Honors College and now a second-year medical student at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB). “I knew from the start I wanted to stay close to home and close to family. I was able to stick around with the people I love and at the same time I wanted an education that gave me the opportunity to go to medical school.”

For Jenna, the Donna and Walt Young Honors College was much more than an academic program. “It became my family,” she says. “I cried when I left because I was so close with everyone. I had great mentors, Dean Graeme Harper and others, who really cared about our success. It felt like it was a safe haven for students, a place where we mattered.”

The Meri family’s OU tradition began with three cousins – Murray, Malik and Eness – who were part of the first wave of Meris to enroll. Each graduated with distinction from what is now the Donna and Walt Young Honors College and went on to professional schools in medicine and dentistry.

In October, following a $10 million transformational gift, the OU Board of Trustees officially renamed The Honors College as the Donna and Walt Young Honors College – the first named college in Oakland’s history. For three decades, Donna and Walt Young have been champions of OU students, establishing study abroad scholarships and supporting programs that develop future leaders with strong character and global perspectives.

Malik Meri (’22) is now a third-year dental student at the University of Michigan. “Oakland was actually the only school I applied to,” he says. “They offered me a free ride with the Presidential Scholarship and that made it an easy choice. It was close to home and I knew I’d be saving for dental school later, so I just commuted. It worked out perfectly.”

Left to right: Sana, Jenna, Lena, Sarah and Dana Meri

He also credits the OU Writing Center for helping him polish his dental school application. “My first personal statement was terrible,” he laughs. “The Writing Center worked with me four or five times over the summer and it completely changed the game. I honestly think it’s a big reason I got in.” Malik’s time at OU was marked by achievement and connection. He graduated with a 4.0 GPA, earning the Academic Achievement Award from the School of Health Sciences. But what he values most are the relationships. “Dean Graeme Harper was the best,” Malik says. “He was so welcoming. Every time he walked into the room, you couldn’t help but smile.”

Beyond his coursework, Malik found ways to lead and give back. He served as a teaching assistant, tutored peers for the Dental Admissions Test and joined the campus esports and chess clubs. “The Honors College gave me so many opportunities to teach, research and mentor others. It really helped me grow,” he says.

The Meri family’s OU roots trace back to a move that shaped their story. “We were all born in Dearborn,” Malik explains. “Around 2007, our families moved to Washington Township because my dad and uncles all worked in this area. Two of the brothers were doctors, one was a dentist and they wanted to be closer to work and have better schools. Within a few years, all three families were living in the same subdivision. We still have dinner together every Friday night. It’s a tradition.”

Family trip to New York (December 2024) Left to right, top row- Eness Meri, Dr. Abdel Wahab Meri, Adam, Malik and Murray Meri. Bottom row left to right - Sana, Jenna, Lena and Sarah Meri

That closeness extends to OU, where Malik has returned since graduating to study alongside his sister Jenna and cousins Sarah and Lena. “Sometimes I’ll go back to Kresge or the med school just to study. It always feels like coming home,” he says.

For Sarah Meri, a senior, that sense of belonging and encouragement has been inspirational. “Jenna, Adam and I all took anatomy lab together in my sophomore year,” Sarah recalls. “By the end of the semester, my cousins kept encouraging me to become a teaching assistant, but I was nervous and hesitant. Eventually, they convinced me and now I’m in my fourth semester of TA’ing for anatomy. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made.”

She says the experience helped her step outside her comfort zone and build confidence as both a student and a mentor. “Since then, I’ve also been given the amazing opportunity to assist in anatomy labs for physician assistant programs at other universities. I always circle this back to my cousins pushing me to strive for the best; that really captures how our family supports one another.”
Lena Meri, now a freshman, adds, “The Honors College has a great sense of community. The students want everybody to succeed and they help each other as much as they can. Even in high school I knew I wanted to go to OU. My family told me it’s a good school. I have all these really smart cousins and they all went here and got smarter. I love it. I’m very happy.”

“It’s funny,” Jenna laughs. “I can walk through campus and almost always run into a cousin at the library, in the OC or even in class. OU has become our meeting place.”

“Oakland is a hidden gem,” she adds. “It may not be the biggest name, but it gives you everything you need: strong academics, a supportive community and professors who truly care. OU sets you up not just to succeed, but to make a difference.”