Senior Spotlight

At Castleton, we often tell students to make a difference here before they make a difference in the world. The Class of 2021 has done just that. Their accomplishments at Castleton tell us they are going to make an immediate impact in our world – just as they have done in our small corner of Vermont. The Class of 2021 is filled with inquisitive scholars, determined leaders, curious world travelers, driven entrepreneurs, and passionate volunteers. This class is artistic, athletic, and ambitious. They are problem solvers and team players. They are Spartans.

Cydney Krone

Cydney Krone

On Cydney Krone’s wall in her off-campus apartment hangs a poster with a man in a suit and tie, and a woman in a white dress, with colorful letters that pop against the bright blue sky in the background.

The poster reads, “Vermont is for Lovers.”

The poster is for a 1992 docudrama with the same name, but that’s not why Krone has it on display. For her, it’s more of a reminder of her experience at Castleton and the people she’s met along the way.

Krone came to Castleton from Los Angeles, California, to study musical theater. She’s also a dance minor.

“I’ve always done performing, ever since I can remember. It all started at Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles,” she said. “It’s always been my passion. Being on a stage, dancing, any sort of thing with the arts. It’s always been a choice that I’ve made. I went to a performing arts middle school, and then I did performing arts in high school, so it’s always just been such a part of my life. Our whole family is full of artists.”

When Krone was looking at colleges, she knew she wanted to get out of her comfort zone and the city. Castleton checked off all of the boxes.

“I wanted to go to a place where the weather was different than I’m used to. Because in California, where I live, it’s like 63 degrees every day, pretty consistent. So I knew I wanted to go to a place with snow. I really wanted to go somewhere I didnt know a single soul,” she said. “Honestly, the first thing that attracted me to Castleton was the name. I was like, ‘Castleton, that sounds so prestigious. That sounds so cute. Castleton University.’”

Keep reading Cydney's story: castleton.edu/cydney

David Malinowski

David Malinowski

David Malinowski has always loved Disney. When Malinowski had the chance to complete a five-month internship, he jumped at the opportunity.

“I can’t pin an exact moment I learned of the Disney College Program. I’ve always loved Disney and learned of the program early on in my life,” Malinowski said. “I wanted to participate in the Disney College Program because it offered me the opportunity to work in a Fortune 500 company and provided a great resume enhancer. Plus, it’s Disney World, of course, I wanted to see what it’s like.”

The Disney College Program is a national internship program that provides students with valuable, on-the-job experience working at Disney parks and resorts. Participants also participate in college coursework during their experience.

Malinowski was part of the custodial teams at Hollywood Studios and Epcot, based in Orlando, Florida. In this role, he was responsible for maintaining the pristine appearance of the parks. During his internship, he lived in an apartment complex provided by Disney with other program participants.

“My greatest takeaway from the program was both the friendships I gained and my newly appreciated love for small towns,” he said.

The experience made Malinowski appreciate the quieter lifestyle at Castleton.

“I was not a fan of living in such a busy area of the country, people always coming and going in a rush, no small-town amenities like in Castleton that I took for granted all my life,” Malinowski said.

Keep reading David's story: castleton.edu/david

Patrick Lucey

Patrick Lucey

Patrick Lucey has always felt at home at Castleton. It only took one visit to campus during accepted students day for the senior, who is studying History, to make the decision to become a Spartan.

A self-described “underachiever” in high school, Lucey took advantage of opportunities to get involved in the Castleton community. Lucey, who is originally from Barre, Vermont, is the current president of the Student Government Association and a former SGA delegate, a member of International Club, a Phi Alpha Theta National Honor Society member, and is a regular name on Castleton’s dean’s list.

At Castleton, Lucey discovered not only more about himself, but also those he was living and learning with.

“Some of my favorite memories in the past four years were late nights with friends, doing homework late, finding something relatable while we venture higher education together. I also really enjoyed the memories of being part of various clubs here at Castleton. I made some lifelong friends that I will be forever grateful for,” he said.

Being in a welcoming, respectful, and supportive community was important for Lucey when considering colleges. He found that at Castleton. He found that in his friends and teammates, as well as in faculty and staff.

“Faculty and staff have helped me prepare for my life after Castleton by being mentors and life coaches, even if they did not intend to be,” Lucey said. “I really appreciate two people in particular: my advisor Dr. Adam Chill, and Matthew Patry, director of student activities. These two gentlemen have engrained a lot in me these past four years, changing my life for the better. It would be unfair if I did not mention them as part of me being successful here at Castleton.”

Keep reading Patrick's story: castleton.edu/patrick

Raynolds Awusi

At Castleton, students are often encouraged to make a difference here before making a difference in the world. Raynolds Awusi took that advice to heart, finding opportunities to become involved in initiatives that he cares about, particularly those relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“My favorite thing about Castleton is the ability to stand up for things you believe in,” he said. “There are people around Castleton who are willing to not only listen to your concerns, but help in finding a solution for those concerns.”

Awusi, who was born in Ghana and raised in Germantown, Maryland, began his academic career at Southern Vermont College before transferring to Castleton. The Management major chose Castleton, in large part, to how easy the University made transferring his credits, allowing him to stay on track for graduation. He also liked Castleton’s small class sizes and the ability to connect with professors one-on-one.

“In the beginning, I felt a bit lost because I was new, but as I began to know people, I started to really enjoy Castleton,” he said.

Awusi has been leading the efforts to form an official NAACP chapter on Castleton’s campus, which he expects will be approved this summer. He was instrumental in the raising of the Black Lives Matter flag on campus last year. These, he says, are some of his favorite memories from his time at Castleton.

Awusi also serves as a Student Government Association delegate and as a representative on Castleton’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. In his collegiate career, he also participated in a number of sports, including soccer and track.

He credits Castleton faculty and staff with mentoring him and preparing him for life after Castleton.

Keep reading Raynold's story: castleton.edu/raynolds

Brooke Rubright

Brooke Rubright

Brooke Rubright started her college journey out of state, but after her first year, she knew she wanted to come home. Rubright is originally from Salisbury, Vermont, a small town located about 30 minutes away from Castleton’s main campus.

“I wanted to continue a degree in Graphic Design and had a really good feeling about the direction Castleton was taking their program,” she said. “The sense of community I felt while touring the campus and interacting with current professors and students solidified my decision. Castleton University provided me the opportunity to study interests of mine, while being less than an hour from my home.”

Rubright came to Castleton as a graphic design major. During her first semester, she added a second major in Media & Communication, concentrated in Public Relations with a minor in Creative Marketing.

“This is something I had never pictured myself enjoying, but I found that I loved to write and help others share their stories,” she said.

This passion led Rubright to explore a variety of courses, internships, and clubs, including the Castleton Content Lab, a group of students working to assist local organizations with their creative needs. As a junior, Rubright interned with Rutland Economic Development Corp. After a merger with Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce, she was offered a parttime position as the organization’s communications assistant. She’s also participated in classes, like Professor Dave Blow’s community journalism course, that have provided Rubright the opportunity to have her stories published in local publications like the Addison County Independent and the Rutland Herald.

Keep reading Brooke's story: castleton.edu/brooke

Adrianna Maher

Adrianna Maher

As a junior in high school, studying abroad upended the direction Adrianna Maher saw her life going in. After returning home to Burlington, Vermont, her previous plans no longer seemed appealing. As a junior at Castleton, a study abroad experience helped focus her goals back home.

“Studying abroad is required of students in the Global Studies program. It was something I had been looking forward to since beginning at Castleton,” Maher said. “I had studied abroad in high school and was ready to do it again. The experience was incredible. I credit a lot of my recent growth as a person and a student to it.”

The Global Studies major, who is double minoring in Political Science and Media and Communication, headed to Morocco in January 2020 to spend the semester studying abroad – or, at least that was her intention. The Coronavirus Pandemic forced Maher to return home early, but the change of scenery presented opportunities for quiet introspection.

“Early on, I learned I was far behind my peers there in drive and general knowledge,” she said. “It was there that I realized I had become complacent at college and in my life. At Castleton, I was getting straight A’s, and I was doing what I thought was a great job. Surface level, I was, however, I never took control of my own life. I wasn’t absorbing the information I was being taught, and I wasn’t seeking out more knowledge on my own. I wasn’t doing enough to meet my own aspirations; I was just getting by.”

Maher likes to say that Castleton, and college in general, gives you a foundation; however, you have to build the house.

“Morocco was the start to this journey, but it’s a never-ending one,” she said.