Baylee Jarrett, a sophomore nursing student from Calvin, WV, was recognized with the Catamounts Climb Higher Award for January 2026 by President Jerry Wallace at WVU Potomac State College.
WVU Potomac State College is proud to announce that Baylee Jarrett of Calvin, West Virginia, has been named the January recipient of the Catamounts Climb Higher Award.
The Climb Higher Award is presented monthly to a student who exemplifies resiliency, outstanding work ethic, and kindness and positivity—qualities that Baylee displays both inside and outside the classroom.
Baylee is a sophomore nursing student at PSC, where she competes on the cross-country and track and field teams. She was nominated by Athletics Director Mandi Larkin, who admires Baylee’s tenacity through adversity.
“Her freshman year, she battled through an injury that was both physically and mentally challenging for her as a competitor. This year, as a sophomore, she was able to show her true potential,” observed Larkin, who said that at the NJCAA DII Cross Country National Championships held in Fort Dodge, Iowa, in November, “she used that mental toughness to help her battle through extreme conditions. The course went from 60 degrees and sunny for the practice run on Friday, to snow-covered and freezing on Saturday. She ran through several inches of snow to not only help her team earn a 21st overall placement, but she also set a PR for the distance, placing 80th in the nation.”
During the summer, Baylee was crowned Miss West Virginia Teen USA, a goal that she had worked toward for a number of years. She juggles these responsibilities with all of her other activities and studies. “She even flew back from a several-day Miss USA competition to compete at the NJCAA Region 20 Cross Country Championships the very next day, placing 4th and earning All-Region honors,” noted Larkin.
Larkin characterized Baylee as “the epitome of balance,” sharing that “while studying nursing, she also was managing cross country or track and field practices and competitions, official appearances, and community service.” Larkin shared that Baylee “has done several service projects both in her home community and her home away from home in Keyser. For example, she went to Keyser Primary School and talked to students about the importance of fitness for your physical and mental health, and then helped them get a workout in during physical education class.”
Baylee’s acknowledged that balancing everything she cares about is one of her biggest challenges as she juggles “being a student-athlete, a nursing major, Miss West Virginia Teen USA, and someone who genuinely wants to show up for others.”
“There was a point where it felt like every part of my life needed 100% of me, and I didn’t want to let anyone down,” she said. “What kept me motivated was remembering why I started each of these paths in the first place. I reminded myself that growth rarely feels comfortable, and that pushing through hard seasons is what builds the kind of resilience I want to model for younger students who look up to me. I learned to take things one day at a time, lean on my support system, and trust that the work I was putting in would pay off.”
Baylee said that she is “driven by the idea that the effort I put in now is shaping the kind of student, nurse, and leader I’m becoming. I take a lot of pride in my work, and I want my grades, my involvement, and the way I show up in class to reflect the goals I’m chasing. I also love the feeling of proving to myself that I can handle challenges and keep growing. Knowing that my hard work opens doors academically, professionally, and personally is what keeps me pushing to give my best every day.”
Her commitment to positivity is evident: “I try to make kindness part of the way I move through everyday life. Sometimes that means offering encouragement to classmates who are stressed, checking in on friends who seem quiet, or being the person who smiles and holds the door even when I’m rushing. Other times it’s sharing study tips, celebrating someone’s small win, or just choosing to be patient and understanding. I’ve learned that positivity doesn’t have to be loud; it just has to be consistent.”
Baylee, whose parents and grandmother work in the nursing profession and whose parents serve within the WVU Medicine system, said nursing was a natural choice for her career as well. She shared that, “I’m really inspired by the thought of becoming a nurse one day. Knowing that I’ll be able to help people, support them on their hardest days, and make a real difference keeps me motivated. When school gets tough, I remind myself of the kind of nurse I want to be and the impact I hope to have. That future is what pushes me forward.”
Baylee was selected by a committee of faculty and staff and presented with a commemorative flag and gift card in honor of her achievement.
“Receiving the Catamounts Climb Higher Award means a lot to me because it shows that the effort I put into my classes, my involvement, and the way I show up on campus is noticed,” she said. “It’s a reminder that staying committed and giving my best truly makes an impact. This recognition motivates me to keep growing and working towards my goals.”
Please join us in congratulating Baylee Jarrett for her determination, resilience, and unwavering positivity. She is an inspiration to the Catamount community and a shining example of what it truly means to Climb Higher.