West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) students in the Class of 2025 were recognized for their achievements in medical school during a Graduation Awards Ceremony on May 1. Graduation awards totaled $87,400 with students being recognized in 33 categories including awards, scholarships and membership in national organizations.
This year’s class consisted of 185 graduates, with 98 graduates entering primary care residency programs and a 100% residency placement rate for the class.
The event recognized 19 students who graduated with honors. In addition, 28 students were recognized as members of Psi Sigma Alpha, a national osteopathic scholastic honor society. Twelve students were recognized with American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow-Rubin Certificates of Commendation for Academic Achievement. Thirty-one students received cords reflecting their membership in Sigma Sigma Phi - Nu Chapter, a national osteopathic medicine fraternity that supports medical scholastic excellence. Thirty-one students from the Class of 2025 were inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society, a national honor society comprising medical students, physicians and leaders who have been recognized for compassionate care. Thirteen graduates were recognized for their military service.
WVSOM President James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., said the ceremony is an exciting opportunity to celebrate and reward students for their achievements.
“I am proud of all of our students and their many accomplishments. It is truly remarkable to see such gifted individuals dedicate their lives to serving others,” he said.
This was the inaugural year for the Triplett Scholarship, which was distributed through funds by the WVSOM Foundation, a supporting organization of WVSOM whose goal is to serve the school and its students by securing, managing and allocating the financial contributions of businesses and individuals.
The scholarship was created to recognize a graduate of George Washington or Man high schools who is also in the top 10% of his or her class. Alternatively, students from Kanawha or Logan counties are considered. This year’s recipient was Madison Marshall.
Marshall, a native of St. Albans, W.Va., said she is grateful to be the first WVSOM graduate selected for the school’s newest scholarship.
“This award — especially with the West Virginia criteria — makes me proud. Being from a smaller town and being honored for this scholarship means the world to me,” she said. “I feel blessed that someone was willing to pay it forward and give back to future physicians. I’m glad there are people who feel it in their hearts to give back and ease the debt for us, and hopefully I can do the same in the future.”
Marshall will enter an orthopedic surgery residency at Community Memorial Health System in Ventura, Calif.
Donette Mizia, WVSOM’s executive director of foundation relations, said witnessing the growth of scholarships is promising for the continued support of future WVSOM graduates.
“It’s always inspiring to see our students recognized for their hard work, and the Graduation Awards Ceremony highlights what a difference donor support can make,” she said. “Watching our scholarship funds’ growth, including the Triplett Scholarship’s introduction, is exciting and shows how our community is stepping up to invest in the next generation of physicians. We are deeply grateful to our donors, whose generosity directly supports the success of our graduates.”
The Graduation Awards Ceremony celebrates fourth-year students’ memberships in various national scholastic honor societies, but it also includes scholarships and awards specifically created for WVSOM through the school’s WVSOM Foundation and WVSOM Alumni Association. Those who wish to become financial supporters have a variety of options to contribute and can do so online or by calling 304-793-6852.
2025 Graduation Awards Ceremony recipients were: