Dearborn, Mich. — The 2019 Henry Ford College (HFC) Distinguished Service Award will be presented to State Representative Abdullah Hammoud at the afternoon commencement ceremony, Saturday, May 4. The ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, located at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn.

“I am not alone in saying that Henry Ford College has served as an instrumental resource for our greater Dearborn community,” Hammoud said. “This is the institution that provided my mother with a pathway to a dignified job that helped pull our family out of poverty. I am humbled by this recognition, and I want to renew my commitment in supporting Henry Ford College, an institution that transforms lives of those who invest their time, money and energy into creating the future they want for themselves.”

Currently, Hammoud is serving his second term in the Michigan House of Representatives for the 15th House District, which covers his hometown of Dearborn. He has emerged as a strong voice for civil rights and a leading mind for health policy.

As a proud son of immigrant parents, Hammoud has been unwavering in his commitment to Michigan and Dearborn for more than a decade. From volunteering at community cleanups with organizations such as the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) to raising awareness for mental health conditions with the SAFE Substance Abuse Coalition, he has consistently given back to the community that fostered his growth and success.

An alumnus of Fordson High School in Dearborn, Hammoud earned his bachelor’s degree in science with a focus on biology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and his master’s degree in public health from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He is graduating this spring with his MBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at U of M.

After working for three years as a healthcare consultant at the Center for Healthcare Research and Transformation in Ann Arbor, he felt a profound need to utilize his skills and knowledge to serve as a volunteer with the United Nations Relief and Work Agency in Jordan. During his months overseas, Hammoud led a successful initiative to promote health and wellness among diabetic refugees throughout the Middle East.

In 2014, Rep. Hammoud was nominated and elected as the youngest board member for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. For more than two years, he was at the forefront of the fight to protect Michigan’s land, air and water by educating legislators and communities on the need for environmentally conscious policy.

Rep. Hammoud is the recipient of the 2018 National Progressive Leadership Award, given annually to one young elected official nationally for championing progressive policies.