Class of 2024: Claudia Budzyn named Outstanding Honors College senior
The Virginia Tech Honors College has named Claudia Budzyn the 2024 Outstanding Honors College Senior in recognition of her accomplishments over her undergraduate career, which exemplify Honors College core values in practice.
Budzyn, a member of the Calhoun Honors Discovery Program, will graduate with dual degrees in environmental policy and planning and politics, philosophy, and economics, plus a minor in German. During her time at Virginia Tech, Budzyn has established a firmly impressive list of accomplishments: She has been published in the Philologia Undergraduate Research Journal, received multiple research grants, studied and volunteered in 15 countries, completed internships, and held numerous leadership positions on campus.
Budzyn plans to pursue a career in law, leveraging her passion for learning to make a career out of advocating for others.
"We are proud to have Claudia represent both her classmates and the Honors College through this recognition,” said Paul Knox, the college's founding dean. “She has contributed a great deal to the honors community and to the university while maintaining an outstanding academic record.”
Service through incarcerated education initiatives
One of the highlights of Budzyn’s undergraduate career has been her participation in the Knowledge Unchained project. For her senior capstone project for the Calhoun Honors Discovery Program, Budzyn joined a team of students investigating higher education within the prison system. Recognizing a need for higher education opportunities within the prison system, the group set out upon a mission to bridge this gap.
The team partnered with faculty including Sylvester Johnson, professor and director of the Center for Humanities, to leverage resources and design a humanities course tailored to incarcerated individuals. The Knowledge Unchained project established the Virginia Tech Prison University partnership, empowering incarcerated students to enact meaningful change and make a positive impact on society.
“By advocating for educational opportunities and rehabilitation programs, we are striving to create a more just and compassionate society where individuals are not defined by their past but empowered to build brighter futures. This experience has reaffirmed my commitment to ethical leadership and service, and I am inspired to continue advocating for positive change in our society, one meaningful endeavor at a time,” said Budzyn.
Environmental education research in Botswana
Since her sophomore year, Budzyn has been developing lessons to teach primary school students the importance of sustainability and environmental issues. Budzyn connected with the nonprofit Center for African Resources: Animals, Community, and Land Use to travel to Botswana and teach these lessons in person. With funding from the National Science Foundation, Budzyn also conducted field research in Chobe National Park and collaborated with local communities to promote public health initiatives.
As a result of this research, Budzyn’s paper – titled “Postcolonial Influences on Environmental Education in Southern Africa” – was accepted for publication by the Philologia Undergraduate Research Journal.
Connecting to family history and embracing diversity
Another stand-out moment in Budzyn’s undergraduate experience was when she had the opportunity to study in Berlin for a semester to complete a minor in German, supported by a Calhoun Honors Discovery Program Experiential Learning Grant.
“With my mother's immigrant background from Poland, I have always felt a strong pull toward exploring the language and culture of the region. Through my travels, I learned that when we embrace our differences then we can truly come together as a global community,” said Budzyn.
Budzyn has pursued opportunities that demonstrate a commitment to embracing diversity in disciplinary training, scholarly experiences, and teaching approaches. In addition to her studies abroad, which shaped her understanding of community and connection, Budzyn has also served as the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences senator and vice president of DEI in the Undergraduate Student Senate.
“The Honors College not only deepened my knowledge and further ignited my passion for learning but helped me embark on a transformative journey of ambition and curiosity. Learning in the college and Calhoun Honors Discovery Program has truly been the cornerstone of my academic and personal growth by guiding me toward incredible career and research paths. I am forever grateful for the opportunities it provided me, and the invaluable lessons learned along the way,” said Budzyn.
