Bethany Smith, a nursing major from Old Fields, was recently recognized with the inscription of her name on the Duke Anthony Whitmore/Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Academic Achievement Wall. Smith was recognized along with other students, alumni, faculty and staff during Recognition Day at West Virginia University Potomac State College.
Each year, up to three students may be selected who exhibit exemplary scholarship and potential for continued achievement.
In addition to serving as a member of the nursing honor society, Sigma Theta Tau, Smith was also inducted into the Sigma Phi Omega Honor Society at the College and has been named to the President’s List all semesters that she’s attended Potomac State College.
While a BSN student, Smith participated in community service surveillance for COVID-19 testing at the College and vaccination clinics at UPMC Western Maryland on Fridays.
During her senior year, Smith accumulated 155 community clinical hours at Miller Family Healthcare and 225 leadership clinical hours at Mon General Hospital. She accumulated a total of 1,102.50 clinical hours during her four years in the nursing program.
Smith is among the first cohort of students to graduate with a West Virginia University School of Nursing degree on the Keyser campus.
“What helped me succeed at PSC was the one-on-one instructional time with my professors. No matter what time of day or what day of the week it was, if I had a question or an issue, my professors would immediately respond – they not only cared about my education, but they also cared about my overall well-being, and this extended to all of the BSN students in my cohort. Our instructors have advocated and worked so hard for the BSN program to make sure we received the best nursing experience possible at Potomac State College. I have thoroughly enjoyed all four years on the PSC campus, especially the warm and friendly atmosphere of a smaller campus and the sense of community of which I became a part.”
Smith has accepted and looks forward to her new position in the orthopedic unit at Ruby Memorial Hospital.
The Achievement Wall, originally conceived to recognize the academic and scholarly activities of PSC's students, alumni and faculty, was named in honor of Alumnus Henry Louis Gates, Jr., PhD, who serves as the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University, and for deceased PSC Professor Duke Anthony Whitmore, PhD, so that “…the student and his mentor may be honored together.”