Bailey Butterworth ’24
Scholarship Recipient
What does being a Smithie mean to you?
Being a Smithie means participating in Smith’s unique culture and traditions, which evolve and transform but remain a connection between me and all the Smithies before and after me!
Why Smith?
Trying to decide what to do after high school was torturous for me. I was deciding between liberal arts colleges, public research institutions, vocational programs, gap years, community colleges and more. Smith won out for its culture, status as a historically women's college and the liberal arts and engineering programs.
What are you studying?
I'm studying engineering with a concentration in community engagement and social change. My focus is design. I want to design and redesign parts, machines, systems, services and experiences. I want to be an inventor and think about design and the power it has to improve and transform our lives at all levels.
“Financial aid opens up the wealth of opportunities at Smith to students who otherwise would have no way of accessing them, and supports students in achieving all that they are capable of.”
Who or what has had the greatest impact on you?
I attended a Quaker school for 15 years, from preschool to high school graduation. Being raised in that community influenced me more than I sometimes like to admit. I often struggled with that institution and feel it’s important to recognize how much it made me who I am today—someone I'm proud of.
What is your favorite thing at Smith?
I can’t pick just one. I've had so many completely new experiences at Smith, from working in Smith’s maker spaces (and realizing that I have uncovered only a fraction of this resource!) to the MacLeish Field Station [an outdoor environmental research, arts and recreation area run by Smith’s Center for the Environment, Ecological Design and Sustainability]. At Smith, if an opportunity doesn't exist, it's usually only an email to the right person to make it happen!
“At Smith, if an opportunity doesn’t exist, it’s usually only an email to the right person to make it happen!”
What Smith faculty or staff member stands out for you?
Tamra Bates [director of student engagement] has been the most meaningful and motivating mentor in my time at Smith. Tamra respects students and their potential—allowing me to succeed by holding me to a high standard.
Why is it important to give to financial aid?
Financial aid opens up the wealth of opportunities at Smith to students who otherwise would have no way of accessing them, and supports students in achieving all that they are capable of.