Alumni Spotlight--Celene Philip

Meet Celene, a Perfect Pair alum who started her journey as a matched volunteer at the University of Michigan chapter from Fall 2020 through March 2023. After the passing of her beloved pair, she continued her involvement on the National Team–first as Grant Coordinator and later as Co-Director of Community Engagement.

Celene was paired with Betty, a fellow Farmington Hills native, avid reader, and self-proclaimed sweets enthusiast. Their friendship blossomed first over Zoom, then in person, often while enjoying lemon bars, cookies, or afternoon walks through the greenery of Betty’s assisted living community. From casual book clubs (favorites included The Silent Patient and Fahrenheit 451) to sharing stories about their lives, families, and traditions, Celene and Betty formed a bond that felt like family. “She once told me I was like another granddaughter to her,” Celene recalls. “That meant everything to me.”

One of Celene’s proudest moments with Perfect Pair came during her time as Grant Coordinator. With no prior experience, she jumped into grant writing and celebrated with her teammates each time their proposals secured funding. The experience strengthened her passion for public service and affirmed her desire to pursue medicine.

Celene credits Perfect Pair for shaping both her personal and professional growth: “It taught me how to be present with someone, even in silence, and how to communicate with care. Those are skills I’ll carry with me into every patient interaction.”

Today, Celene is a first-year medical student at Wayne State University School of Medicine, continuing her passion for service and connection in a clinical setting. We’re so proud to see Celene carry forward the spirit of Perfect Pair into the next chapter of her journey!