Julia Gabryszewski ’26 takes pride in her Polish heritage. 

Though born in the United States, her upbringing was split between the U.S. and Skępe, Poland, leading her to speak both English and Polish. She is a member of the Philadelphia Polish Folk Dance Ensemble, which this year named her Miss PKM, an honor bestowed upon a young woman who has shown commitment to the group and a love of Polish folk dancing. And now, she is working hard to start a Polish club at Arcadia to give current and future students the chance to gather, learn, and celebrate their heritage.

“A big part of our culture is that we are hard-working people, we work for what we want, and we don’t forget our roots,” Gabryszewski explained. “We keep traditions and the culture alive through music, dance, traditional clothes, and many events that are run by the Polish communities in the United States, which is why I joined PKM.”

As Miss PKM, Gabryszewski represents the group at various festivals and performances, including the 92nd Pulaski Day Parade, which was held on Oct. 5 in Philadelphia. She also serves as a role model for younger dancers, helps with rehearsals, and mentors new members.

“I wanted to feel more connected to my culture, and I have always been fascinated by Polish folk dancing,” she said. “The group gets together every Friday to dance and learn traditional dances from different regions of Poland, then we dress up in traditional costumes and perform at many events to show our Polish culture.”

Being named Miss PKM was personal for Gabryszewski.

“I decided to dedicate my accomplishment of becoming Miss PKM to my grandfather, Zdzisław, who passed away from ALS this past June,” she explained. “He had always wanted to see me in a white dress and crown on a car in the Pulaski Day Parade. I brought a framed photo I had with him in the car with me.”

Gabryszewski stays busy at Arcadia. The Franklin Township, N.J., native is studying Criminal Justice and Sociology, with a double minor in Forensic Investigation and Italian. She is on the board of the Astronomy Club, as well as a member of the Arcadia chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success, and is working with Diana Garderewicz ’29 to further develop a Polish club at Arcadia.

Gabryszewski has studied in Dublin, Ireland, and Perugia, Italy. She hopes that her next stop will be England or Switzerland for a Global Field Study course.

“I chose Arcadia because I was fascinated by the study abroad program,” she said. “I am so grateful to have been able to study abroad at the Umbra Institute in Perugia; it was truly a life-changing experience.”

Once graduation rolls around in May, Gabryszewski hopes to enter the workforce, eventually working up the career ladder to become a crime scene investigator. She is also interested in the possibility of studying for her master’s degree, either in forensics or forensic psychology.