Wendy and Jason Nolan knew their daughter Grace was destined for greatness and would improve the lives of many – but not until this week did they fully grasp how much she had done that already.
The outpouring of support they’ve received as a result of the Oct. 18 unexpected passing of Grace, a second-year medical student at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine – has made that remarkably clear to them.
They say teammates, classmates, coaches, mentors, mentees, administrators, faculty members, and more have all reached out with a familiar message — Grace Nolan made the world a better place.
“We knew that Grace had a big impact on people … we were her biggest cheerleaders so we saw it,” says Wendy. “But I never in a million years would have realized how far her spirit had traveled already. It’s just unbelievable.”
“We’re extremely proud of the person she was and to learn about the impact she had on people … one of our hopes in this happening is that a friend or even a stranger who came in contact with her is moved to do something better in life,” says Jason.
Grace’s classmates say that’s exactly how they feel.
“If everyone were like Grace, the world would be a much better place,” says Quinn Abate, M2. “The world’s a little less bright without her, and I can’t pretend otherwise.”
“I expected her to be a lifelong friend, but even that probably wouldn’t have been long enough,” she adds. “I’m very grateful that I had the opportunity to have her as a friend.”
In honor of Grace, a memorial will be held on the campus of Oakland University on Oct. 31 (details below) and the school has established the Grace Nolan Fund for the Future of Medicine.
‘Grizz Forever’
Grace grew up in Clarkston, Michigan, and had a deep passion for sports — gymnastics, lacrosse, softball, and her big love, distance running.
Wendy Nolan says Grace’s first experience as a runner was around the age of 10. Wendy was running in a 5K and told Grace to follow the crowd and that she would come back for her. As the only one in her age group, Grace finished first.
“She was a little kid so we were making a big deal about it and in one of her first acts of humbleness she’s like ‘Guys, really? Like, there was no competition,’” Wendy recalls with a smile.
Grace joined the cross-country team in sixth grade and eventually not only helped lead Clarkston to a state title but also made it to the national meet in indoor track and became an All-American. The Nolans say Grace was successful because she enjoyed the training and was “self-motivated and willing to work.”
OUWB M2 Sarah Sheena competed against Grace in high school.
“Grace was always one of those competitors you genuinely admired and looked forward to racing against because she always brought this positive energy,” says Sheena. “Even back then I remember looking at her and just seeing how disciplined, hardworking, and dedicated she was, which inspired me to become a better runner.”
Wendy says Grace was drawn to Oakland University after high school because it offered the best of both worlds – strong academics and athletics.
OU became Grace’s home away from home. Wendy says Grace felt like she was part of a welcoming, neighborhood-like community where she knew people on campus and enjoyed having friends and the running community close.
“Once she got here, she was like ‘Grizz Forever,’” says Wendy, referring to the school’s mascot. “Grace was looking forward to being able to be a doctor, make money, and contributing back to the university. That was very important to her.”
Grace earned Cross Country All-League First Team honors three times.
Her career was capped with an epic performance in April 2025 at the Horizon League outdoor championship, where she bested the league’s previous 10K record by more than 30 seconds.
“Honestly, it was like a fairy tale ending,” she said in September 2025 after being nominated to be the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year.
A month later – and during her first semester as a medical student — Grace competed in the Detroit Free Press Marathon and finished fourth among women.
Grace also excelled at OU academically.
While in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science and Master of Public Health, she made it to the Horizon League Conference All-Academic Team seven times. She was on the OU President’s List of scholars every year, earned a Platinum Presidential Scholar, and in 2021, received the Provost Student Research Award to fund her undergraduate research project.
As a member of OUWB’s Class of 2029, she was working on her third degree from Oakland.
As busy as she was, Grace always found time to give to others.
In 2022, she was awarded the OU Student Activities and Leadership Award for Outstanding Volunteer Student. She volunteered with organizations like Michigan Senior Olympics, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, Lighthouse of Oakland County, Girls on the Run, and organized winter wellness care packages at a local hospital.
In 2025, Grace received the Horizon League’s Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor, one of only four from OU who have received the award that is considered the league’s most prestigious individual honor. It’s given to top student-athletes who demonstrate outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
‘That is Grace’
Those closest to Grace say it’s important for people to know the person behind the achievements and recognition she received.
“Grace was a person of dreams, fears, frustrations, opinions, humor, vulnerabilities, and an entire inner world that existed beyond what she could accomplish or give to others,” says Toria Horn, M2. “She didn’t have to achieve extraordinary things to be extraordinary to me. She was extraordinary simply because she was Grace.”
Wendy adds that Grace was fiercely independent. It wasn’t uncommon for Grace to turn down help, even with little things like laundry.
“I would constantly tell her to let me ‘mom,’” says Wendy. “She always wanted to do it herself. It was like an ongoing joke.”
Wendy says Grace had always been that way, always very confident. Like the time in third grade when she dressed as a leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day and formed a beard out of her super long hair.
“Her brother said, ‘What are you doing? People will laugh at you,’” she says. “Grace said, ‘Yes, they will. That’s the point.”
“That is Grace, right there.”
Grace also had an extremely creative side constantly exploring creative outlets like crocheting, drawing, poetry, and writing short stories.
“She was super creative,” says Jason. “And these things she decided to do, she did well.”
And of course there is the positive impact she left on others.
M2 Alli Leonard says she and Grace initially bonded over navigating demanding extracurriculars outside of medical school. Leonard played for OU’s women’s soccer team.
“She would just listen and it felt like she was the only person that truly understood how to handle that,” said Leonard. “It was the most validating feeling. We would talk and I would walk away feeling like I could do it because Grace is doing it too.”
M2 Jocelyn Perez says Grace helped her navigate being far from friends and family in Illinois.
“Grace had such a welcoming personality and would always greet you with a really big smile, regardless of if she knew who you were or not,” says Perez. “She tended to focus on the good things … was always that positive light I needed, even if we were texting each other good luck on exams.”
Horn says the most beautiful thing about Grace was how deeply she wanted to understand the people she loved.
“She didn’t just want to know what’s going on in your life, she wanted to understand how your mind worked, why you felt the way you did, and what made you who you were,” says Horn. “She paid attention to things you didn’t even realize you were showing her and she remembered those things about you.”
“Her ability to understand you allowed her to comfort you, encourage you, and support you without you having to tell her.”
Sheena says such characteristics and intuition almost made it so Grace “didn’t need a lecture on how to be compassionate, empathetic, or what it means to truly take care of another human being.”
“Those qualities were already so deeply rooted in who she was,” says Sheena. “She’s truly the type of future physicians every patient deserves to have.”
The entire OUWB community is mourning the loss of Grace, says Christopher Carpenter, M.D., Stephan Sharf Dean.
“The right words don't exist to truly capture how much Grace meant to our community nor the devastation of her loss,” he said in a school-wide communication earlier this week. “Grace had a passion for life, was an extremely kind and giving person, pushed to continually improve herself, and often wore a smile through it all.”
“She embodied what our school is all about,” he added.
Celebration of Life
On Oct. 31, “Grace Nolan: Celebration of Life” will be held in Oakland University’s Oakland Center. An open reception will be in the Founders Ballroom on the second floor of the OC from 10:30 a.m. to noon with the main program to follow.
“We’re having the memorial to show gratitude to the Nolan family for sharing their daughter with us and because she has touched so many lives in the OU and OUWB community,” says Claus Weimann, senior director, Philanthropy. “We’re hoping people can come together to support one another, and be a community that shares their love for her and recognizes the love she had for others.”
Horn is set to be one of the speakers and calls it “one of the most important and difficult things I’ll ever have to do.”
“As heartbreaking as it is, being able to speak about Grace and honor her life means more to me than I can put into words,” she says. “I had the privilege of knowing her so deeply, and I think it’s important to me to share the parts of her that people may have not had the opportunity to experience.”
The Nolans are intent on the event being a celebration— a place for people to share stories, find some peace, and remember a life well-lived.
“There are a lot of people besides us that are affected by this so we’re hoping that this celebration is going to bring them some happiness,” says Jason. “I want people to walk out of there feeling better about themselves, not worse.”
The family also is encouraging those interested in donating to the Grace Nolan Fund for the Future of Medicine. Those who are interested in supporting Grace's passion for OU Athletics can make contributions to the Women's Cross Country Gift Fund by selecting the "Give to Athletics" button within the link.
Wendy says the hope is to keep Grace’s spirit alive beyond the memorial planned for next Saturday.
“She loved the school,” she says. “I cannot think of a better way to keep her legacy going forever.”
For more information, contact Andrew Dietderich, senior marketing specialist, OUWB, at adietderich@oakland.edu.
To request an interview, visit the OUWB Communications & Marketing webpage.
