Marian’s Chaldean Connection

Madeline Kouza (left) and Violet Kainaya.

A legacy of faith, scholarship, service continues to shape generations

By Sarah Kittle

For generations, Marian High School has held a singular place in Metro Detroit’s Chaldean community—a place where faith, academic rigor, leadership, and cultural identity meet. From accomplished alumnae to top-ranked graduates, Marian has helped shape Chaldean American young women into leaders in medicine, business, service, and beyond.

That bond came into focus again this year when Marian named nationally respected plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Dunya Atisha, Class of 1994, its 2026 Distinguished Alumna and commencement speaker. At the same time, two Chaldean American students—Violet Kainaya and Madeline Kouza—earned recognition as salutatorians in the Class of 2026.

Taken together, their stories offer more than a snapshot of individual achievement. They reveal an enduring relationship between Marian and the Chaldean community, grounded in Catholic faith and a shared pursuit of excellence.

Dr. Dunya Atisha

Dr. Dunya Atisha’s path from Marian student to nationally recognized surgeon carries particular meaning for many Chaldean families, for whom education and service are deeply intertwined. Double board-certified in general and plastic surgery, Atisha has spent the past decade at Henry Ford Health as Director of Breast Reconstruction and Director of Microsurgery, helping women heal physically and emotionally after breast cancer treatment.

Marian President Heather Sofran described Atisha as someone who “exemplifies what it means to lead with both skill and compassion.”

Long before she stepped into an operating room, Atisha’s future seemed to announce itself in childhood. Her mother recalled that as a little girl, she would play pretend and declare, “Dr. Atisha, you’re needed in the ER, stat!”

At Marian, that early sense of purpose was sharpened by a community that nurtured both conviction and confidence.

“Marian gave me the courage to speak my mind and not worry about what others think,” she said. “It gave me the confidence to excel, even in a field that has often been male-dominated.”

She immersed herself in campus life through the Marian Rice Players, Model United Nations, National Honor Society, and French Honor Society, while also serving as a cantor at church. Throughout it all, faith remained the throughline of her educational and professional journey.

“I always say God leads me where I need to go,” she said. “The path is not always clear, but I try to heed His voice and pray to do His will.”

That same faith-centered ethos continues to draw many Chaldean families to Marian. For a community rooted in faith, family, and ambition, the school’s emphasis on Catholic values and leadership formation feels like a natural fit.

That legacy is now being carried forward by students like Violet Kainaya of Rochester Hills, one of Marian’s Class of 2026 salutatorians. She plans to attend Wayne State University to study biological sciences on the pre-med track before continuing on to medical school.

“After undergrad, I want to go to medical school and become a doctor,” Kainaya said. “I want to make a big impact on others’ lives and be a kind, compassionate, and understanding provider to all.”

Her resume reflects the kind of well-rounded leadership Marian hopes to cultivate. Kainaya played varsity softball, served on multiple student boards, and held roles in the National STEM Honor Society and the Business Entrepreneurship Alliance Marian & Rice. She was also active in Marian’s Chaldean American Student Association, helping foster community and cultural connection among Chaldean students.

Looking back, Kainaya described Marian as a place of both personal and spiritual growth.

“My Marian experience has truly been so meaningful,” she said. “I was able to learn so many new lessons, meet some of my best friends, and make lasting memories.”

She also praised the environment created by Marian students themselves.

“The girls at Marian stand apart from others,” she said. “Not only is everyone intelligent and diligent, but the young women are faithful, kind, compassionate, and genuine.”

Fellow salutatorian Madeline Kouza shares much of that same perspective. A Belleville native, she will attend the University of Michigan to study biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience on a pre-dental track.

Like many students arriving from smaller schools, Kouza initially had to find her footing at Marian. It did not take long, however, for the school’s sense of community to make itself felt.

“Marian was great for me,” she said. “Coming from a small school, it was a big adjustment, but it was for the best because it introduced me to some of my best friends.”

Kouza credits Marian’s rigorous academics with preparing her for college, but she said the school’s faith life left the deepest impression.

“The most impactful experience was the faith life at Marian,” she said. “Marian gave opportunities for homeroom Mass, rosaries, and Stations of the Cross that helped me feel more connected to my faith.”

She immersed herself in Marian’s Medical Club, National Honor Society, National STEM Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society, while also attending the March for Life in Washington, D.C., and participating in a mission trip to Honduras.

For many Chaldean families, stories like those of Atisha, Kainaya, and Kouza capture what Marian has come to represent: a place where young women are pushed to excel academically while remaining rooted in faith, culture, and service.

Over time, Marian has quietly become more than a school within the Chaldean community; it has become a touchstone. Here, students are encouraged not only to excel in the classroom, but also to lead with compassion, deepen their faith, and embrace a life of service.

And as Dr. Atisha addressed Marian’s graduating seniors, her message distilled the values that have long resonated across generations of Marian graduates and Chaldean families alike.

“Work hard. Keep your head down. Have faith,” she said. “Keep the Lord in front of you in everything you do, and trust that He is guiding your path.”