The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) has recognized medical students for their academic and community achievements during the annual Spring Awards ceremony.
WVSOM faculty were also recognized by students for their commitment to educating future physicians. This year’s event, which took place Apr. 14, offered recipients a total of $55,800 through 25 scholarships and certificates of appreciation.
Student scholarships and awards were:
The Roland P. Sharp President’s Award and Foundation Award of Excellence for Student Achievement is given to a student based on academic performance, osteopathic professional interest, leadership and citizenship to a first-year student. This year’s winner was Ethan Stephens.
The Fredric W. Smith Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student completing his or her first year of medical school. The student must plan to practice family medicine and have a strong interest in the school and community. The winner was Ashley Blake.
The James R. Stookey, D.O., Manipulative Medicine Scholarship was formed in honor of James Stookey, vice president for academic affairs and dean from 1988 to 2002. The scholarship is given to a student who has demonstrated proficiency in manipulative medicine. This year the scholarship was awarded to Hannah Young.
The Paul Kleman, D.O., Family Practice Student Award recognizes a student member of the Kappa Chapter of the WVSOM American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Zane Dennison received this year’s award. He was also the recipient of the Randy Dailey Memorial Award, which is given to a second-year student from West Virginia who demonstrates a commitment to academic excellence and service.
WVSOM Alumni Association Scholarships were given to two students who exemplify scholarship, osteopathic professional interest, leadership and citizenship. The winners were Alyssa Beda and Scott Gay.
The Greenbrier Military School Alumni Association Scholarship is presented to two students who excel academically and show strong leadership, determination and discipline. This year’s recipients were John Apgar and Seth Hammons.
The MOSS Scholarships are in honor of the late Marlene Wager, D.O., and are presented to students who are not West Virginia residents. This year,14 students received the scholarship. They were Jade Arrobas, Allison Collier, Anthony D’ Auria, Devin Francillon, Jeremy Hess, Kenneth Hyden, Meriam Khan, John Kuipers, Gretchen Lussi, Taylor Markell, Blessing Nduka, Suleman Sheikh, Tennis Sugg and Crystal Young.
The Marlene Wager 10-Fingered OPP Scholarship was created by the Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) department in 2008 to recognize a second-year student with outstanding skills in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). Candidates are nominated and voted by classmates. The winner has his or her named engraved on a plaque that is displayed in the osteopathic clinical skills lab. This year’s recipient was Tom Kashiwagi.
The Loretta Moore Memorial Award recipient is chosen by first-year students to a classmate who has overcome obstacles in order to succeed. Maggie Benedette was this year’s recipient.
The Samantha Ketchem Muncy Primary Care Memorial Scholarship was formed to honor Muncy, a student killed in a car accident. The scholarship will be awarded to a third-year medical student from Barbour, McDowell, Taylor, Preston or Harrison counties in West Virginia who plans to remain in the state to practice in a primary care specialty. This year’s scholarship recipient was Leslee Rice.
The Ronald P. Billips Memorial Scholarship was formed by a 2002 WVSOM graduate to honor his friend and classmate killed in a car accident. The award is given to a first-year student who is a graduate of Big Creek, Iaeger, Mount View, Princeton or Bluefield high schools in West Virginia or Graham, Tazewell, Richlands or Pocahontas high schools in Virginia. This year the award went to Samantha Boothe.
The Dr. William B. Mullen and Jennifer White Scholarship was created in recognition of Dr. William B. Mullen of Logan, who cared for patient, Jennifer White, who passed away in 2011. Joshua Easterling, Benjamin McMillion, Jacqueline Moore, Alexandrea Smith, Morgan Aguirre and Dianna Tomblin were the scholarship recipients.
The Student D.O. of the Year award acknowledges a student’s commitment to his or her school, community and the osteopathic profession. This year’s recipient was Anne Taylor.
The Cheryl and Michael Adelman WVSOM Leadership Scholarship is awarded to third-year students who have demonstrated character and leadership during their time at WVSOM and who have the potential to be future leaders in the osteopathic profession. Ari Shaeffer, James Mason, Miles Medina and Ryan Stradleigh were this year’s recipients.
The McGraw-Hill Education/Lange Student Award for Academic Excellence is awarded based on academic achievement to students to help offset textbook costs. Callum Lewandrowski and Sana Siddiqui received the award.
WVSOM President Michael Adelman made a Special Award Presentation to Student Government Association President Harsha Kannan and Vice President Alyssa Beda. The award recognizes service and leadership to WVSOM and the student body.
The Student Government Association Scholarship Award is presented to first-, second- and third-year students who have mentored fellow students, shared their own resources to facilitate the learning of others, have founded clubs or organized events and have brought students together in new and creative ways. The recipients were first place Lisa Smith, second place Anna Malysz and third place Ethan Stephens (Class of 2019); first place Kathleen Woods, second place Emily Zagorski and third place Michael Blahut (Class of 2018); first place Miles Medina, second place Julia Vu and third place Rachel Harris (Class of 2017).
The Student Government Association Character Scholarship Awards were new to this year’s program. The award is presented to first-, second- and third-year students who possess and demonstrate characteristics that may sometimes go generally unnoticed but are noted by peers. This year’s inaugural recipients were Jacqueline Sun (Class of 2019); Tom Kashiwagi, Anne Taylor and Mistafa Hafid (Class of 2018); and Miles Medina, Ari Shaeffer and Byrce McDaniel (Class of 2017).
The Student Government Association Appreciation Certificates are given to employees by SGA members for their work and support on behalf of medical students. This year’s recipients were Dr. Andrea Nazar, Dr. Jeremy Proctor, Dr. Rebecca Morrow, Belinda Evans, Dr. John Schriefer, Will Alder on behalf of the maintenance department and Jeff Dowdy on behalf of the housekeeping department.
The Fredric W. Smith Community Service Award recognizes a campus organization or club that demonstrates a commitment to the Lewisburg community, the WVSOM community and classmates. The Geriatrics Club was given this year’s recognition.
The U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award is given to a student who has developed and implemented a program advancing the overarching goals and achieving the objects of Health People 2020. The student has also developed and implemented a program that addresses the priorities of the National Prevention Strategy. This year’s recipient was Rachel Harris.
The Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health (T.O.U.C.H.) program encourages medical students to be engaged in community service work throughout the year and volunteer in the area. This year, a total of 348 WVSOM students volunteered 18,028 hours of their time to the community. The Platinum level winner was Anne Taylor, who donated 224 individual hours.
The Community Outreach and Relief Effort (CORE) recognized members for their service. This year, 10 students received the honor. They were Kelsey Gay, Scott Gay, Bailey Lessig, Kiersten Lessig, Kathleen Mellnitz, Anne Taylor, Lucas Hamrick, Norman Hurst, Kristina Lim and Rachel Wallace.
WVSOM faculty who were recognized by students were:
The Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) Integration Teaching Awards are given to faculty members on and off campus. The winners are recognized for their efforts in teaching as well as those who have excelled in integrating OPP in their classes. This year’s winners were Andrea Nazar, D.O., Janice Jenkins Miller, D.O., (off-campus) and Peter Ward, Ph.D.
The Atlas Club Golden Key Awards are given to a biomedical science faculty member and clinical science faculty member selected by students. This year’s recipients were Peter Ward, Ph.D., and the late Daryn Straley, D.O.
