At the end of Julia Wysocki’s first week as a student worker with the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct, CSSC’s director had a little surprise in store for the first-year Studio Art – Graphic Design major.

“I was sitting down with Cat Mattingly and she was teaching me how to work with Maxient, which is the system that we use to process the submissions,” Julia–who asked to be identified by her first name rather than her last name on subsequent references–said. “And she was like, ‘Surprise!’”

There on the screen was Julia’s name, a recognition from her supervisors for upholding the Knight Code of Honor by demonstrating the Lived Value of excellence.

“They were nominating me for putting myself out there, getting involved, and being, like…amazing. When I received the email informing me of my nomination, I found it funny because Cat gave me the tutorial on how to send the recognition email to other students, using mine as an example.”

As a first-generation college student, Julia does not take this accomplishment lightly.

“ I think that excellence means striving to be your best self, no matter what odds might be against you… Excellence is not perfection; it’s simply striving to be the best version of yourself,” she said. “ Both of my parents are very hard workers, and they want only the best for me in getting a college degree. I feel that being a first-generation college student adds an extra layer of pride. I’m definitely trying to take advantage of all Arcadia has to offer– because not everyone has such an opportunity.”

Julia commutes to Arcadia from Abington, Pa., and grew up passing by Grey Towers Castle regularly. Since she is so close to home, she has made it a priority to get involved on campus as much as possible to avoid going home between classes. In addition to her role with CSSC, this motivation has also led her to a role with the Because Arcadia Student Blog, along with attending Commuter Club events.

“I really wanted to try to encourage myself to stay on campus as a commuter who lives very close with three- and four-hour gaps in between my classes,” she said. “As long as I’m here, I’m going to try and soak up as much knowledge and as many opportunities as possible.”

In high school, Julia took part in the Design, Photography, and Illustration (DPI) program at the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology, which is affiliated with Abington Senior High School (and about a dozen other local high schools). The program culminated in sharing a collection of works with colleges and universities during National Portfolio Day at Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia.

“ I developed a portfolio that I am very proud of. I visited the Arcadia table, and the reviewers were very impressed with my work… When you’re an artist, you see your work for yourself, but it’s rewarding to see other people appreciate it.”

Julia said her experience at Arcadia already feels like the right fit. Though she initially thought the cost would be a barrier, the merit scholarship and portfolio awards she received made it possible for her to attend. 

“I visited over 10 different schools when looking at colleges, and Arcadia was the very last school that I toured,” she said. “ I attended the Fall Open House. It was the first time that I actually stepped onto the campus, and I just knew. At Arcadia, I felt comfortable, and I was sure it was a place I could get inspired.”

She hopes her recognition will encourage more students, faculty, and staff to nominate her peers who represent Arcadia’s Lived Values.

“ I think that [the Knight Code of Honor] is important because as students we should always strive to be the best versions of ourselves and reflect Arcadia’s values in that,” Julia said. “I believe that it’s important to recognize students who are exceeding expectations  because a lot of times (while you should be doing these things without being recognized), it helps students feel seen as upstanding people.”

To learn more about the Knight Code of Honor and recognize a student demonstrating Arcadia’s Lived Values, click here.