2026 Graduate Spotlight: Kristina Novak
A Commencement Surprise for an Honors Student
Kristina Novak’s calendar rarely had an empty space. Between working long shifts in healthcare, managing multiple campus jobs, participating in student organizations, and excelling academically, the recent graduate of Bucks County Community College somehow found time to make a lasting impact on nearly every corner of campus life.
That dedication was recognized on May 21, when Kristina graduated cum laude with an Honors Health Science degree — and was surprised moments before the 2 p.m. ceremony with news that she had been selected as the 2026 President’s Cup winner, one of the college’s highest student honors.
“I was honestly shocked,” Kristina said. “I didn’t find out until 10 minutes before the ceremony when a student from the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony told me congratulations. It was genuinely so cool seeing my name engraved on the cup.”
Balancing Healthcare, Academics, and Campus Leadership
While attending Bucks, Kristina maintained an intense schedule both on and off campus. Living in Upper Bucks County, she worked 12-hour shifts at St. Luke’s Grandview Campus as an orthopedic trauma floor patient care assistant, performing patient care duties, phlebotomy, EKGs, and assisting nurses wherever needed.
At the same time, she also held two jobs at Bucks as a Centurion Leader/Peer Mentor and social media intern, helping manage content for the college’s main social channels, along with pages for the Academic Success Center, RadioBux, and the Upper Bucks Campus.
As the social media intern for nearly two years, Kristina became a familiar face across the college’s online presence, appearing in reels, stories, and promotional posts that highlighted student life and campus events.
Her hard work paid off academically. Kristina earned Dean’s List honors every semester and also achieved President’s List recognition while completing the Honors Program.
Finding Community and Confidence
Kristina first came to Bucks while still at Pennridge High School through dual enrollment courses. Once on campus full time, she immersed herself in student life. She became co-president of RadioBux, joined the Honors@Bucks Club and the Upper Bucks Campus Student Planning Association, played softball in fall 2024, and served as a peer mentor through the Centurion Leadership progradm. She also participated in the 2024 and 2025 Student Research Conferences and was selected as a Board of Trustees Spotlight student.
“The thing I loved most about the college was the community,” Kristina said. “Whether it was through clubs or classes, I made so many lifelong friends.”
She credits several faculty and staff mentors with helping shape her experience, including Samantha Walter in marketing, Christopher Seifert and Naomi Thompson in student life, and Kevin Murray and Kristy Wharfe at the Upper Bucks Campus.
Research, Service, and Lasting Contributions
One of Kristina’s proudest academic experiences came through her Honors microbiology course with Dr. Andrew Ippolito. Working on a genetics analysis project with Sordaria – a genus of microscopic fungi – she spent weeks studying fungal genetics.
“This class was honestly the hardest course I have ever taken,” Kristina said. “But Dr. I was so helpful in explaining the process and making sure I was also having fun with the project.”
Her work was so successful that her Sordaria lab procedure will now be used by future genetics students.
Outside the classroom, Kristina also dedicated time to community service, including volunteer trips through the Centurion Leaders program to Orlando, Florida, where students worked with Give Kids the World and Clean the World.
Looking Ahead
This fall, Kristina will begin a radiography program as she works toward becoming an X-ray technician, with long-term goals of specializing in CT or MRI imaging.
She also hopes to continue traveling the world. Having already visited Iceland twice — with a third trip planned this summer — Kristina hopes to explore even more destinations after completing her education.
For now, though, she is reflecting on the experiences and relationships that defined her time at Bucks.
“Getting this degree means so much to me, but it is also bittersweet,” Kristina said. “I am so proud of my accomplishments and time here at Bucks. I will forever miss the memories I have made here.”