In her Thompson Hall bedroom, freshman Bethany Cynthia Smith was found lifeless at 2:30 a.m. yesterday. Smith, 18, was pronounced dead less than an hour later, but the cause of death has yet to be determined, Penn State Police Services said.

Called "Booboo" by close friends, Smith was a varsity athlete in high school and a member of the Key Club, longtime friend Jeff Pan said. Her first year at Penn State, she wasn't as involved, Pan said, because she had a harder time meeting other first-year students in her West Halls dorm.

"She was a really good person, she just never found her niche," Pan said.

The results of her autopsy will not be released until toxicology reports are completed, which could take weeks, County Coroner Scott Sayers said.

"We're looking to see if there's any type of drugs in her system, be it medicated drugs or illicit drugs," Sayers said.

He said there is no evidence of foul play and he called her death an "isolated event."

"There's no other parties at this time we believe to be involved," Sayers said. "We're still investigating along with the university police."

Residence Life staff members met with members of Balsam House, Smith's section of Thompson Hall, to notify them of the loss and offer counseling. Xay Chongtua, coordinator for Thompson Hall, said Residence Life is trying to reach out to other friends of Smith as well as her neighbors.

"Bethany was considered a very friendly, outgoing person on the floor, and a lot of people will be missing her," Chongtua said. "A lot of people are trying to process what's happening right now."

Pan and other friends visited Smith's room yesterday and looked through old photo albums.

In her room, he said, there was one album that encompassed her life and was covered with Post-It notes from her mother reading: "Bethany, you know I love you," and "Bethany, take care of yourself at college."

"That was just heart-wrenching," he said.

Residence Life staff met with the house members twice yesterday and will continue to meet with students throughout the week, Chongtua said. She said the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services will hold special hours if students ask for help in dealing with this particular loss.

Penn State has lost a number of students this year. This semester five deaths at University Park have gained public attention.

Bill Mahon, Penn State spokesman, said about 25 students in the Penn State system die each year, but this year more focus has been on those students lost. This year, he said more than 20 students have passed away.

"They certainly are getting more attention than they did before, and I think that's certainly appropriate," he said.

Pan said he will remember Smith as an independent young woman. In her senior yearbook, she used an anonymous quote to express her outlook on life.

"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life. Define yourself."