FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Release Date: December 13, 2006
Contact:
Tyra M. Metoyer
Director of University Relations
Phone: (936) 261-2121
Cell: (832) 216-3622
Fax: (936) 261-2139
E-mail: tmmetoyer@pvamu.edu
Web:
www.pvamu.edu Prairie View A&M University Community Mourns the Loss of
Inspirational Alumna, Bethany Norwood
Prairie View, Texas—Prairie View A&M University mourns the death of alumna and former cheerleader Bethany Norwood, whose paralyzing fall during an unsupervised cheerleading practice two years ago changed the university community forever. Norwood, a member of the class of 2005, died of remote spinal cord injury on Dec. 11 in San Antonio.
After a tragic fall in 2004 that broke her neck in six places, damaged her spinal cord and rendered her unable to walk, Norwood used her courage and unwavering desire to move past her accident and completed her bachelor’s degree in political science from Prairie View A&M University in May 2005.
Despite her paraplegic status and having all odds against her future, Norwood did what Prairie View graduates do—she became a productive person. Before her death, Norwood remained focused on pursuing a legal career to prepare herself to provide a voice and advocacy for disabled military veterans.
Prairie View A&M University President George C. Wright said, “The entire Prairie View A&M University community has lost a true inspiration. We offer her parents, Bobby and Marva Norwood and her entire family our most sincere condolences during their loss. Bethany’s story will always remind us of the human capacity to accomplish greatness despite unexpected tragedy.”
In a recent article released on Norwood, PVAMU political science professor Artemesia Stanberry states "Bethany had every right to stop trying, to just give up. But she never did." Stanberry also confesses "I often told her she was the inspiration to me."
Professor Stanberry describes Norwood as “A student that had a great relationship with faculty and students alike. She often led class discussions and exhibited an enormous amount of character that was a huge inspiration to all of my students.”
“The fact that she was able to continue on despite the tragedy of her accident was inspiring. She was the same Bethany after the accident as she was before,” states former classmate Cory Neblett. “It’s rare to see someone of our age face that kind of a hurdle and still move forward.”
Norwood’s mother, Marva Norwood, was often seen on campus escorting her daughter while Bethany finished her course work towards her degree. Sources say that her mother sometimes cradled her daughter's head during lectures to help keep her warm.
Upon hearing of Norwood's death, student and university officials immediately organized a memorial scholarship fund in her honor.
Donations may be sent to the Bethany Norwood Memorial Scholarship Fund:
Bethany Norwood Memorial Scholarship Fund
Prairie View A&M University
P.O. Box 519, Mail Stop 1200
Prairie View, Texas 77446
Please make checks payable to Prairie View A&M University and note "Bethany Norwood fund" on the memo line.
Memorial Service for Bethany Norwood:
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Resurrection Baptist Church
1002 East Live Oak Rd.
Schertz, Texas 78154
11 a.m.
Church contact:
(210) 658-0459
Bethany Norwood, PVAMU class of 2005
A true inspiration to her classmates, students and the community, Norwood died at age 24, after experiencing complications stemming from a paralyzing fall she suffered while a student at Prairie View A&M University.
About Prairie View A&M University:
Founded in 1876, Prairie View A&M University is the second oldest public institution of higher education in Texas. With an established reputation for producing engineers, nurses and educators, PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 37 master’s degrees and four doctoral degree programs through nine colleges and schools. A member of the Texas A&M University System, the university is dedicated to fulfilling its land-grant mission of achieving excellence in teaching, research and service. During the university’s 130-year history, nearly 48,000 academic degrees have been awarded. For more information regarding PVAMU, visit
www.pvamu.edu.
Posted By: Jehan Bunch
Thursday, December 14th 2006 at 12:30PM
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