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When Madilyn McGreevy arrived at ������ý����, she knew she wanted to make a difference. What she didn’t know was just how deeply that commitment would shape her college experience.

Now, as she prepares to graduate summa cum laude with dual majors in elementary education and psychology, that commitment has translated into more than 2,100 hours of community service, a global teaching perspective and a clear mission: to support students who need it most.

“I’ve always known I wanted to work with kids,” McGreevy says. “Psychology helped me understand how they think and grow, and education gave me the tools to support them in the classroom.”

As a Bonner Community Leader, McGreevy immersed herself in sustained, hands-on service throughout her four years, with much of her work centered on children and families in Trenton, New Jersey. At the HomeFront Family Preservation Center, she provided evening care for toddlers, supported school-aged children with academic work and helped create a safe, nurturing environment for families in transition. Through Joy, Hopes, and Dreams, she continued that support one-on-one, developing tutoring materials and helping students build both academic skills and confidence.

“It wasn’t just about showing up,” she explains. “It was about building relationships and being someone the kids could count on.”

Her service also extended beyond New Jersey. In the summer of 2023, McGreevy completed an AmeriCorps internship in Washington, D.C., through Civic Changemakers, where she helped middle school students create their own service project focused on building a more positive environment in their school. Together, those experiences deepened the connection between her service work and her future career in education.

During her time at ������ý����, McGreevy has taught more than 500 children across elementary grade levels. An eight-week student teaching experience at Escola La Seda in Barcelona, Spain, expanded her perspective even further, as she taught English as a second language to children ranging from age three through sixth grade.

“It was an amazing experience,” she says. “The kids were so sweet and eager to learn. Every time I’d step in the room, I’d be asked a bunch of questions. They were just so eager for the knowledge.”

When asked what she liked most about Barcelona, McGreevy goes immediately back to the students.

“I still have pictures of them up on my wall,” she says. “I’ve never felt more loved than with those kids.”
Her fieldwork in New Jersey offered a different kind of insight. Across placements in districts with varying levels of resources and support, McGreevy saw firsthand how much students’ educational experiences can differ.

“One of the things I reflect on all the time is the contrast between the students that I’m teaching,” she says.

That contrast reinforced her desire to work in high-need communities, where she feels she can make the greatest impact.

“It just makes me think more deeply about the kind of teacher I want to be,” McGreevy says. “I want to work with students who may not always have the same resources or support, and help create a classroom where they feel cared for, capable and excited to learn.”

McGreevy applied that same sense of purpose to leadership, serving as vice president and treasurer of the Council for Exceptional Children, mentoring peers and working as a psychology content tutor. Through Bonner, she also served as an Impact Intern, supporting student leaders and partnering with community organizations.

After graduation, McGreevy will work as an educational specialist at a nonprofit summer program in New York’s Catskills, supporting students through engaging academic programming designed to combat learning loss.