Dr. Betsy Smith Scholarship Memorializes The Beloved Faculty Member

Elmira, NY (10/14/2021) — To honor the joy felt by students, faculty and staff who came into contact with Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Betsy Smith, Elmira College, along with Smith family members, have established the Dr. Betsy Smith Scholarship to provide support for future Elmira College nursing students.

Smith sadly passed away in August due to complications during childbirth. As a professor, Smith was ever-present on campus. Beyond teaching, she was a club advisor and she could often be found teaching her taekwondo students proper kicks. Students knew they could stop by after dinner and still find her in her office and that she would provide a sympathetic ear to listen and help counsel them with whatever problems they may have.

Smith joined Elmira College in 2014. According to Corey Stilts, associate professor of Chemistry, it was obvious right from her interview that she would be a perfect fit for Elmira College.

Over her career, she played an instrumental role in the development of the Chemistry and Biochemistry programs and more recently aided in the development of the Environmental Science program. She was known for her reliability and was invested in making the Elmira College experience the best experience for students.

During a memorial service held on Oct. 14, speakers reminisced about their experiences with Smith.

"She was the one person I could text at 10:30 p.m. at night about a chemistry question," said Amy Lyndaker, assistant professor of biology. "It was encouraging and inspiring to work along someone so passionate for their student's learning."

"Her passion, you could feel it," said Ryan Hardy '23. "She found a way to get students just as excited, just as passionate. She got me excited to step up to the plate, to fight through those long nights of studying and test-taking and walk away with a sense of accomplishment."

Smith's mother, Jacquelyn R. Smith, shared a story about asking her daughter to move to Florida after Smith's sister got a job as a professor there. Smith told her mother, "If I could pick this College and town up and plop it down in Florida, I'd be the happiest person in the world. But since I can't do that, I will stay right here."

While Smith taught many Chemistry and Term III travel courses, the course she enjoyed most was Introductory Chemistry. Taken primarily by nursing students, Smith enjoyed the challenge of opening up the world of chemistry to students who held different primary interests. Her fondness for that class and the nursing students is why the College and family chose to make the scholarship a legacy for new nursing students in hopes they too will find love in unexpected places.

Anyone interested in further supporting the scholarship and its purpose is welcome to make an online gift (select "Other," then choose "Dr. Betsy Smith Scholarship" in the dropdown), or by mailing your gift to: Office of Advancement, Elmira College, 1 Park Place, Elmira, New York, 14901.

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