Alumni Spotlight: former Knight Crier editor Madison Wiernusz at GMU

Madison Wiernusz, class of 2016 graduate and former Knight Crier editor, is a Public Relations concentration at George Mason University. When discussing her decision to attend the school, she admitted she wasn’t completely sure about George Mason until she attended the accepted student spring preview.

“That’s when I knew. I was on campus, and I fell in love with the people and the atmosphere. I knew I was home.” said Wiernusz.

Favorite part about college- “I absolutely love that I don’t have to wake up so early to go to my classes every single day. I would wake up at 6am (6:30 when I snoozed my alarm) in high school, but now the earliest I wake up for class is 8am. Those extra two hours of sleep make a huge difference.”

What do you miss most about North Penn?- “Unfortunately, George Mason does not have a football team, so I do miss North Penn football games. I miss painting my face NP blue, standing in the student section, and cheering on the Knights. That’s why I can’t wait for basketball season because that’s when I’ll really be able to show off my GMU pride.”

“Even more than football games, I definitely miss seeing familiar faces at North Penn. All of the North Penn faculty and staff is absolutely amazing and friendly, and it was really hard to leave that. Specifically, I do miss, the one and only, Mr. Manero. I had the honor of being in one of his classes every single year, and he just made my day. Plus, he helped me out with so much, and I still remember a lot of his advice to this day. “Never be afraid to go above and beyond, Madison Wiernusz.” -Mr. Manero, 2013 Public Speaking”

Advice for high schoolers- “Take advantage of everything that North Penn has to offer. It sounds so cliché, but it couldn’t be more true. You never know how much you’ll love something until you actually do it. North Penn offers so many fun and unique course options, so don’t hesitate to try something new. I waited until senior year to take Broadcasting 1 and Creative Writing 1, and I loved them. My only regret is that I waited so long, so I didn’t have the opportunity to take the second course of each. Academics aside, the outside events are just as, if not more, important. Go to the football games, the concerts, Winter Ball, Junior Prom, Senior Prom, etc. Take part in events, such as Wing Bowl, Mini-Thon, etc. Don’t just do it yourself, get as many friends involved as possible. That’s how the best memories, the ones you’ll cherish forever, are made.”