Knight to Know: Margaret “Gracie” Budnick ’28
Major: Psychology
Extracurriculars: I am an International Peer Associates Mentor (IPAL), a member of the Disability Support Services Student Advisory Board, and I am involved in the Student Government Organization. I also have a first-degree black belt in Kenpo Karate, and I am currently teaching while also training for my second degree.
What are some of your hobbies?
My hobbies include gaming, birdwatching, walking, reading, and martial arts.
What is your proudest accomplishment to date?
My proudest accomplishment to date is probably receiving my first-degree black belt. The test for it was five hours long, and I think it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life.
What are you most looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to making a positive impact on the world once I graduate. I want to use what I have learned in my education to become a better person and to better the world around me.
What are you involved with in the Honors Program?
In the Honors Program, I now work with Community Outreach as a coordinator, helping to think of different ways we can benefit the communities around us. This will be my first year as a coordinator, as last year I was a first-year student who just helped out where I could with different Honors-related events around campus.
What has that experience been like for you?
I have loved my experience with the Honors Program. Being able to participate in courses like Honors Equilibrium really helped me to adjust to the college setting. The extra opportunities for service and community building provided by the Honors Program have also been key to my college journey so far; they empower me to take my education to the next level while also prioritizing being a productive member of the Arcadia community.
What do you think sets Arcadia’s Honors Program apart from other schools’?
I think two things in particular set Arcadia’s Honors Program apart from other schools’: Our smaller size and the wonderful faculty who run and assist with the Honors Program. Arcadia’s smaller size compared to other schools, such as Montco, means that every individual can have a powerful impact on the school’s culture and community. This empowers all students at Arcadia, especially those involved in programs like Honors, to shape Arcadia into an institution that is innovative, equitable, diverse, and always striving to become better. Those who run the Honors Program should not be overlooked either. As a student, it never feels one-sided in the Honors Program because the faculty are just as invested in creating, organizing, and implementing impactful and substantial events, programs, and other such opportunities. You can sense the passion they have for the Honors Program when you speak to them, and the dedication they have to student success is palpable, letting you know you’re not alone in your college journey and that you are supported in the Honors Program.