Sixteen-year-old Hana Taylor Schlitz is set to make history as the youngest graduate of Texas Woman’s University (TWU) this May.
Breaking the record previously held by her sister, Haley Taylor Schlitz, who graduated at the same age in 2019, Hana continues her family’s legacy of academic excellence.
The Taylor Schlitz family is renowned for their remarkable achievements.
Hana’s older sister, Haley, became the youngest person in U.S. history to earn a law degree, while her brother, Ian, obtained his PhD at just 17 years old. Now, Hana is poised to leave her mark on the academic world.
In an essay for Newsweek, Hana reflected on her journey, citing her remarkable recovery from Tuberculosis (TB) as a driving force behind her educational pursuits.
“My recovery from tuberculosis was not just a testament to medical science but also to the strength of the public health infrastructure in the United States that supported my treatment,” Hana shared. “The trajectory of my life shifted dramatically due to the medical care and opportunities I received, a stark contrast to the fate my biological mother met.”
Adopted by Dr. Myiesha Taylor and her husband, William Schlitz, at 10 months old after her biological mother’s passing, Hana’s story is a clear evidence of the transformative power of access to healthcare and opportunities.
Driven by her experience, Hana is dedicated to ensuring that others have access to the same level of care that transformed her life. Pursuing a PhD in sociology, she aims to examine the societal factors influencing health outcomes, particularly in vulnerable communities affected by diseases like TB.
“As I prepare to graduate from Texas Woman’s University, the youngest in its storied history since its founding in 1901, I am both honored and excited to join my sister, Haley Taylor Schlitz, in this unique legacy—gratefully stepping forward from the record she once set. It is not just an academic achievement; it is a call to action,” Hana wrote in the essay for Newsweek.
As she graduates from TWU and embarks on her doctoral studies, Hana remains committed to her mission of effecting positive social change through research and advocacy.
