Nursing a passion to serve

Neal Hautz grew up in rural Boyne City, Michigan. From a young age, he learned the importance of service and community. Whether he was playing sports, cleaning up the parks in his neighborhood, or helping his parents at school fundraisers, Neal always saw a lot of value in working with others toward a common goal.

Neal playing football for the Boyne City High School Ramblers.

As captain of the Boyne City High School football team, Neal rallied his teammates in times of both celebration and frustration. Winning or losing, he embraced the responsibility of bringing people together for a cause greater than themselves.

After helping to lead the undefeated Ramblers to the playoffs as a junior, Neal broke his wrist during the game that ultimately ended their winning season, and Neal’s last year on the gridiron with his older brother, a senior on the team at the time. 

As the pain in his wrist intensified, so did his emotions. “At the hospital, I was an emotional mess thinking about my injury, my teammates, and the sacrifices I had made for football,” Neal said.

That’s when the nurses stepped in.

“They played a huge role in calming me down and I was immediately relieved just to have them by my side, doing whatever they could to help me start to recover,” Neal said. “It was incredibly inspiring to experience that, and I wanted to do the same for others.”

Read more about Neal's journey to the U-M School of Nursing in Leaders and Best Impact.