JTC: Triple Honors

Altogether, Elizabeth, Michael and Sarah Basha weighed under 9 pounds at birth. That hasn't stopped them from making an oversized impact in life, particularly over the past few years at the University of Mississippi. And they plan to continue.

The Basha triplets all are set to graduate Saturday (May 10) with bachelor's degrees: Elizabeth, in biology; Michael, biochemistry; and Sarah, psychology. Next, all three members of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College plan to continue their education this fall at the university's School of Medicine in Jackson.

They credit their success and stamina to God and their “hardworking” parents and sister, also an Honors College alumna who graduated from UMMC.

The triplets were born in Jackson. Their family — mom, Dr. Maha Wasef, an anesthesiologist; dad, Ashraf Basha, a civil engineer; and older sister, Michelle Basha — eventually moved and made their home in Clarksdale, where the Basha triplets graduated from Lee Academy in 2021.

Whether studying together in the Honors College kitchen, enjoying spaghetti night at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church or traveling to Egypt to explore their parents’ homeland, the siblings are often together.

“Elizabeth has a killer smile, and she has a very loving and caring personality,” their mother said. “Sarah has a quiet sense of humor, and she has a peaceful personality and never gave (her parents) a challenging time. (Michael) is charismatic and compassionate. He is assertive and goal oriented.”

Those who know Elizabeth best describe her as both calm and exuberant – a rare combination that dazzles anyone she encounters.

“Elizabeth makes every person feel seen,” said friend and classmate Abby Whaley.  “She is very smart and has many accomplishments, yet she is incredibly humble in all that she does.”

Her many achievements include serving as a teaching assistant in biology labs, conducting her honors capstone research through the Jackson Lab — led by biology professor Colin Jackson —  shadowing various physicians for more than 120 hour, and volunteering some 500 hours, including 300 hours with the Oxford Community Market.

Whether she’s coordinating fun events as assistant director of the Honors College Senate or rallying her teammates as captain of intramural soccer, Elizabeth’s greatest commitment is her faith.

“Always in service and filled with joy, Liz places herself beneath others so that they might be lifted up,” classmate Reagan Kurtz said. “She never ceases to love on those who need it most, and I am forever indebted to her for the friendship she has shown me.”

Elizabeth’s best advice for college freshmen is to “get out of your comfort zone and try new things.”

“I would advise being intentional in your interactions and involvement by doing things you genuinely enjoy rather than doing things simply to check a box,” she said. “My faith manifested in my local church, St. John the Evangelist and church community, Catholic Campus Ministry.”

Early on at Ole Miss, Michael noticed Elizabeth thriving with new friends at St. John's, and he credits his sister for encouraging him to make authentic connections with others by becoming stronger in his faith.

“Michael is one of those elusive all-arounders,” friend Michael Critz said. “He’s equally at ease helping with a plumbing project or contemplating philosophical questions, and I have been blessed to have him in my life.”

Resoundingly described as “funny, smart and loyal,” Michael’s resume displays a love of volunteering, working, playing and leading.

For the past two years, Michael has served as ambassador for the Honors College and the Health Professions Advising Office, the latter a space where all three siblings have appreciated the guidance of HPAO director Sovent Taylor and adviser Kelli Hutchens.

Friends and family attest to Michael’s handyman skills, thanks to his intermittent work as a construction assistant for the past eight years. His teaching and research skills are evident, as well.

“Michael brings a level of professionalism and maturity that far exceeded expectations,” said John Wiginton, instructional professor and coordinator of undergraduate laboratories for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “He is consistently reliable, precise at his work (as a teaching assistant) and thoughtful in his interactions with both peers and instructors.”

Michael was diagnosed at birth with hydrocephalus, a condition where fluids collect in brain cavities. It’s a condition Michael has researched with Toshikazu Ikuta, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, and why Michael spent time at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis in first grade, when a tube draining brain fluid to his abdomen broke.

After his surgery, Michael remembers looking around at other Le Bonheur patients and thinking, “I’ll be fine in a week, I get to go home,” before it dawned on the 7-year-old that “Some kids don’t get to go home.”

Michael’s condition kept him from contact sports in school, but it did not hold him back from running track, and it does not keep him from playing intramural soccer and pickleball with his sisters and friends.

“Michael — or to me, ‘Mikey’ — is one of the most loyal best friends I’ve ever had,” classmate Athan Gregory said. “I know that he would drop everything if I had an emergency in the middle of the night, and I would do the same for him.

“He has the best sense of humor and can make anybody laugh. His personable and loyal disposition will serve him well as a physician.”

Sarah’s list of accomplishments overlaps significantly with her siblings’ accolades, but art is a road that she travels solo. Once considering a career as a medical illustrator, Sarah pursues art as a hobby and respite.

“Since a young age, I have enjoyed reading and making art,” she said. “I like living in the perspectives of different characters when I read, and I think I view the world a little differently as an artist.”

Gregory is friends with all three siblings.

“Sarah is the quietest of the triplets, but beneath the mystery, she is the coolest,” he said. “She is extremely thoughtful and intentional, and she also has imaginative creativity.”

Ole Miss senior Kyle Butcher first encountered Sarah through the Catholic Campus Ministry, and calls meeting Sarah a “pivotal moment” in his life.

“When it comes to setting an example, Sarah is incredible at it,” he said. “She is constantly there for others and always seems to know what people need.

"Behind her mysterious wall is an incredibly smart woman, and the impact she has on her friends and family cannot be understated.”

Secretary of UM’s Knitting Club, a four-year Honors Art Showcase participant and director of marketing and graphic design for UM’s Active Minds, Sarah loves being a triplet but recalls a moment when she enjoyed being singled out.

“One of my favorite undergraduate memories happened in Bruce Levingston’s honors class, Art and the Republic,” Sarah said. “Bruce brought pizza and ice cream for the class since we were watching a historical film, and I felt excited because it was my birthday.

“One of my classmates told Bruce, and everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to me. Being a triplet, it was the first time I ever experienced that song for only me. It was a fun day!”

When all three are in the same space, the energy is light and welcoming. Smiles are everywhere.

Elizabeth smiles with anticipation: ready to listen, to accept, to love. Michael smiles with humor, as if to say, “Let’s have fun; life doesn’t have to be so serious.” Sarah’s enigmatic Mona Lisa smile may be hard to interpret, but when she speaks, her quiet wisdom or amusing quips are always worth the wait.

“We have a deep connection, you know?” Michael said. “We started together in the womb, which is crazy to think about. I always joke that I need to get married, so I don’t have to live with them anymore.”

Michael anticipates at least four more years, though, as all three will be living together in Jackson while attending UMMC.

Good friend and Catholic campus minister Alex Barfield said all three siblings make an incredible impact on others.

“You will hardly meet a student at Ole Miss who has not been positively affected by Elizabeth, Michael and Sarah,” she said. “There will never be another trio like them.”

Top: Triplets Elizabeth (left), Michael and Sarah Basha are set to graduate from the university on Saturday, each with a degree from the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College — and all three are headed to the UM School of Medicine this fall. United by faith, family and a shared drive to serve others, the siblings have made a lasting impact on the Ole Miss community. Submitted photo

See more photos from the Basha triplets' Journey to Commencement