Anaiyah Smith of Bethel Participates in Donning of the Stole Ceremony

Anaiyah D. Smith of Bethel was among the nearly 70 members of The University of Scranton's class of 2023 who participated in the Jesuit school's Donning of the Stole Ceremony.

The annual ceremony celebrates and honors the accomplishments of members of its class of 2023 from underrepresented identities who received their undergraduate and graduate degrees. The purpose of the ceremony, which was a student-led initiative, was to highlight the students' success in overcoming the particular barriers and obstacles faced by students from these groups, particularly students of color, in attaining a higher education.

The students honored include outstanding academic and leadership achievement award recipients, future physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, counselors, accountants, business analysts, forensic chemists, nurses and many other highly-successful members of the University's graduating class.

The ceremony, organized by the student committee members and Jose Sanchez, assistant director of the University's Cultural Centers, took place on campus as part of Scranton's commencement activities and events.

Smith earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice with a minor in crime analysis. She was a member of Mock Trial and the Black Student Union and participated in Residence Life programming. She was a work study student for the Nursing Department.