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Paralyzed Cheerleader Was Beacon of Hope

By Marvin Anderson
Black College Wire

Her determination, her strength and her smile made Bethany Norwood a symbol of triumph over adversity to students and faculty at Prairie View A&M University. Even in death, her successful fight to earn a college degree after being paralyzed in a cheerleading accident become a beacon of hope for future generations of students.

Prairie View A&M University Bethany Norwood

Norwood, a former Prairie View cheerleader whose neck was broken in six places after a fall during practice on Jan. 14, 2004, died Dec. 11 from complications relating to her injury, according to news accounts. She was 24.

Although the accident left her paralyzed from the neck down, Norwood was determined to fulfill her dream of graduating from college. She eventually returned to the Texas school, accompanied by her mother, Marva Norwood, who quit her job as a nurse to care for her daughter.

In May 2005, her struggle ended in triumph: She graduated with a degree in political science and planned on a legal career as a spokeswoman for disabled military veterans.

In honor of her life, students and faculty are creating the Bethany Norwood Memorial Scholarship Fund at Prairie View A&M.

Cory Neblett developed the idea for the scholarship as a way to honor his friend and preserve her memory. He took the idea to Artemesia Stanberry, a political science professor who also knew Norwood well, and they worked together to establish the fund.

"We wanted to keep Bethany 's name alive," Neblett said. "And she will continue to live through the scholarship fund."

Neblett plans to help launch a short capital campaign and start the scholarship at $2,000 possibly as soon as next semester.

The scholarship fund is being publicized by commercials on local Texas radio stations. Prairie View and Norwood's family have asked that donations be sent to the scholarship fund in lieu of flowers.

Many Prairie View students are already donating. To Nico Mathews, one of Norwood's friends and classmates, it is a worthy cause for education, aiding Norwood's family and preserving her presence.

"We can't do anything to bring her back, so we can dig into our pockets," he said. "Her legacy and what she did at Prairie View will always stand with this scholarship fund."

Mathews is working along with students and faculty in his political science department to contribute to the fund. He said a group of donors will most likely meet after the funeral Dec. 16 to set goals and discuss how they can collectively raise money for the funds.

"She was courageous. She was an inspiration to anyone who saw her and how she fought back to get back into the classroom and get her degree," Mathews said. "She was an angel."

Faculty members also were inspired by Norwood. Norwood would often tell Stanberry that the professor was her inspiration. But Stanberry said Norwood helped her just as much and has left a lifelong impression.

"She had physical challenges, great physical challenges; she was in pain, but she didn't let that stop her," Stanberry said. "In all of our everyday lives, we think about things that should be different or we think about challenges that we have. You look at Bethany and she just inspired me to not only push myself but to really realize my role as a university professor."

Stanberry began to teach at Prairie View the same year Norwood returned after her accident to complete her classes for a degree. She said she taught Norwood and as the class progressed, the two became friends and remained in contact after she graduated. Stanberry said she realizes the emotional impact professors and students have on one another.

A memorial service will be held for Norwood Dec. 16 at Resurrection Baptist Church in Schertz, Texas.

Marvin Anderson, a student at Hampton University, is editor of the Script.

Posted Dec. 13, 2006