Madelyn Hudak '27, Political Science

"Seeing how history, policy and society intersect at Bucknell in real time has helped me reflect on how I want to make a difference in the world."

In Fundamentals of Biomechanics, Madelyn Hudak '27 suited up a classmate in 51 reflective markers to analyze the split-second mechanics of a javelin throw. The data confirmed what her coaches preach: straighten the elbow to nearly 180 degrees, and the spear leaves the hand faster — and flies farther.

Charting her own path at Bucknell, though, required a different kind of calibration. No motion-capture device could tell Hudak when to change majors, travel to Germany or pivot toward law school. Those adjustments came from within, with support from Bucknell faculty and staff each step of the way.

Hudak, a Portage, Pa., native, enrolled at Bucknell as a neuroscience major, then switched to biomedical engineering. "I was thinking a lot about prosthetics for Paralympians and how engineering could help athletes keep competing," she says. "I love the idea of helping people, even if they never see my face."

Shifting Focus

But as she explored more of Bucknell's curriculum, new interests emerged, and political science electives kept tugging at her curiosity. Midway through her sophomore year, Hudak made another turn — proof of the flexibility Bucknell students have to follow their interests down unexpected paths.

"I realized my passions lie more in politics, law and history than in STEM," she says.

A summer course in Germany helped solidify her decision. As part of Engineering in Global and Societal Context, a three-week experience, Hudak and her Bucknell classmates visited Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne and Nuremberg. Touring the Airbus headquarters in Hamburg showed Hudak the global choreography required to create $400 million airplanes.

"I was fascinated by how Germany contributes to the production of Airbus aircraft as part of a multinational effort between France, Germany, Spain and the U.K.," she says. "The level of precision, planning and coordination involved is something I had never truly appreciated until I saw it up close."

The three-week course let her immerse herself in a new culture without missing a single fall or spring practice back home. Some schools discourage student-athletes from taking study abroad opportunities, but not Bucknell.

The journey also marked a personal milestone for Hudak: It was her first time out of the country. Hudak says she enjoyed learning about the German education system at the David Roentgen vocational school, exploring exhibits at the Deutsches Museum in Munich and deepening her understanding of the Holocaust while visiting Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial.

Balance and Belonging

Back in Lewisburg, Hudak balances early-morning lifting workouts in the Pascucci Family Athletics Complex, afternoons throws and evenings studying the unexpected links between governments, markets and technology. She maps her days carefully. "If I have lifting at 6 a.m., I can't be up until 1 a.m. finishing homework," she says — but still makes space for time with teammates.

A newcomer to javelin after an ACL injury in high school, Madelyn Hudak '27 has found a strong sense of belonging on campus as a member of the Bison track & field team. Photo by James T. Giffen, Marketing & Communications

Because there is no javelin competition during the indoor track season, Hudak brings a camera to meets to photograph teammates. "I don't want to be just the javelin thrower who's sitting back at home and training," she says. "I want my teammates to know I care."

In that same spirit, Hudak mentors younger athletes through Bucknell's Igniting Leaders program.

Coming from a high school class of just 54 students, Hudak finds Bucknell's population of 3,900 expansive enough to offer ample opportunities but still somehow familiar.

"Lewisburg is bigger than my hometown, but it still has that small-town charm," she says. "Market Street reminds me why I chose a place where people know your name."

She hopes to one day compete at the NCAA Championships. Long term, her sights are set on a career in intellectual-property law, where she can help inventors patent life-changing technologies, bringing together her STEM roots and legal aspirations.

"I want to bring my whole package," Hudak says. "I want to be proud of where I stand at graduation and where I'm going next."