Nursing honors student Summer Brooks chairs PTK, advocates for Narcan

Headshot of Summer Brooks who has long brown hair and wearing a blue grad gown.

Nursing student Summer Brooks isn’t shy about telling people her success story at HFC.

“I was sick when I was younger, and it really affected my schoolwork. My GPA in high school was 2.0,” recalled Brooks. “When I came to HFC, I really started to excel. I earned a 3.5 GPA, and I’ve made the Dean’s List! I’m in two honors societies! My success story is one I will never get tired of sharing.”

Born in Detroit, Brooks is the eldest of four daughters and an alumna of Cass Technical High School. She is attending HFC through Detroit Promise, a tuition-free program granting any graduate of a Detroit high school a tuition-free path to an associate degree or technical certificate. The City of Detroit pays for tuition and fees. The program is administered by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce in partnership with colleges like HFC.

Brooks will earn her associate degree in nursing in May from HFC. This fall, she will transfer to Oakland University and finish her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Afterward, she plans to attend graduate school at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She is fluent in English, conversational in American Sign Language, and has a working knowledge of Spanish.

“I came to HFC because it was close to home, and I was interested in the nursing program,” said Brooks. “(HFC Program Advisor) Julie Fountain came to College Day at Cass Tech, representing HFC. I got to speak to her at length, and she made a very compelling case about why HFC is a good school to consider for nursing.”

President of PTK

During her time at HFC, Brooks has been a member of the Student Nurse Association, the Henry Ford II Honors Program, and the HFC chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) (Alpha Xi Mu). For the 2024-25 academic year, she has served as the president of PTK.

“The outreach I’ve done as the president of PTK these past two semesters has been amazing,” said Brooks. “I remember when I was in middle school, I ran for vice president of the National Honor Society and lost. I planned on running for vice president of PTK, but a friend encouraged me to go all the way and run for president, so I did.”

Under her leadership, PTK has:

Alongside fellow PTK members Ali Berry, Abdulaziz Alkhalisi, and Charles Brooks (no relation), Brooks was instrumental in implementing student wellness initiatives at the College, including the installation of Narcan dispensers on the main campus and East Campus.

“My fellow students’ input was really insightful. They want to put an end to the opioid epidemic. They are passionate about making a difference in the community and I thought that was beautiful,” explained Brooks. “PTK and Student Council cohosted training sessions, teaching people when and how to administer Narcan. This is a great way to be able to help people and give more insight into how our Narcan initiative can benefit our community.”

PTK faculty advisor Chardin Claybourne is proud of Brooks’ accomplishments.

“Summer has served with extraordinary capability as president of HFC’s PTK chapter,” he said. “I’ve seen her steadily grow into the role and show exceptional leadership as she’s handled a wide range of responsibilities, while also managing her last year at HFC. I fully expect to see Summer leading in even greater roles on larger stages as she continues her academic and professional career. It’s been a pleasure working with her, and I’ll miss her intelligence and good humor after she graduates.”

Giving back to the community through healthcare

Brooks has been a nurse extern at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit since May 2024 and an ambulatory care associate at Karmanos since 2021. The work is difficult but rewarding.

“I go home knowing that I positively impacted people, and that makes me feel good,” said Brooks. “That makes me passionate about giving back to the community through healthcare.”

Brooks spoke about being in the hospital during her childhood and her teens. The medical staff, particularly the nurses, were very kind and compassionate, which left an impression on her.

“This experience drove me to help others,” she recalled. “I don’t think I would become a nurse if not for the nursing staff. I don’t think I’d have more compassion and a higher level of care and love for my patients. It’s scary to be in the hospital, and the medical professionals can help assuage your fears. Being in the hospital isn’t just about getting medical treatment; it’s about how you’re treated by the staff. I saw firsthand the love and passion these nurses have for their jobs. That was the driving point for me to go into nursing.”

Brooks’ career goal is to become a family nurse practitioner and open up a free clinic with research available for people suffering from chronic diseases in her native Detroit.

“I want to help people dealing with illnesses that are detrimental on so many levels,” she said. “It’s not just the symptomatic factors, there are also social and economic factors. To provide care for free would be beautiful and life changing.”

Heart and strength complement each other

Brooks is grateful for the friends and mentors she’s made at the College, and the encouragement from her instructors.

“HFC has diverse and insightful teachers. They are well-versed in their subject areas, but they always go beyond the teaching curriculum,” she said. “They go the extra mile for students, which helps us with our careers and with future classes. HFC has benefited me outside the classroom and inside the classroom.”

“Summer is an exemplary student who faces every challenge with grace and determination,” said HFC nursing instructor Dr. Candance Niemer. “She is resilient and maintains a commitment to excellence despite adversity. Summer consistently builds upon her goals with steadfast dedication, demonstrating a strong sense of responsibility and an invaluable work ethic. Beyond her academic and personal achievements, she exhibits a remarkable humility that speaks volumes about her character and integrity – qualities that are essential in the nursing profession. Summer is truly poised for future success.”

Detroit Promise Success Coach Jeffrey Liggens enjoyed working with Brooks.

"Summer is a self-starter, a hard worker, and someone who brings both heart and strength to everything she does,” said Liggens. “Summer is caring, opinionated in the best of ways, and committed to making a difference. While serving as president of PTK and staying deeply involved across campus, she has impressively maintained a 3.5 GPA. Watching her grow into the dynamic young woman she is becoming has been inspiring, and I have no doubt that she will accomplish incredible things as a future nurse practitioner."