Class of 2026: Kathryn "Kate" Principio

Shocked at how I immediately felt at home.

A good mix of excited and nervous for what comes next, in somewhat disbelief college flew by so fast, but so happy for the connections I’ve made and all I’ve learned.

I studied abroad at the Budapest campus in the fall of 2023. I also conducted student-faculty research with Dr. Dana Ferraris in the summer of 2025. I connected with a couple different alumni during summer research, through an alumni panel and the Alumni Association Awards. Both experiences were so life-changing and truly shaped me into who I am today. If you are thinking of studying abroad, DO IT!

Religions: An Overview with Dr. Brad Stoddard. It was my first college lecture on campus and was something I just was interested in outside of STEM. It taught me so much about different religions and how they influence cultures and society. It’s a class I think about frequently, even four years later.

I have been a part of our varsity women’s track and field team as a thrower all four years and currently am a team captain. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences, as it has taught me so much about perseverance and hard work. I have also been a part of McDaniel College’s Honors Program and a student ambassador for the Admissions Office since my first year. Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) has been a huge influence on my college career since the return of the organization to campus in the fall of 2023. In the fall of 2024, I became the women’s track and field representative for our Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), started my learning assistant position at the Pick STEM Center, and joined the McDaniel Women’s Leadership Network. I am currently the Gamma Sigma Epsilon chemistry honor society secretary and have been since being inducted in the spring of 2025. I am also a member of our Trumpeters Honor Society.

Being able to be a part of so many communities on campus. I never thought coming to college would allow me to meet so many amazing and diverse people. 

The throwing circles. Even though it’s where I practice every day, it’s also where my daily break takes place. It always gave me a space to take a couple deep breaths, be outside, and recoup before getting back to the books. 

That it is OK to not have everything planned out and to take risks. It is so important to find yourself while attending college, and I truly don’t think I would have been able to without taking a couple of risks and letting go of my constant need to plan out my future.

“Design, synthesis, and evaluation of indole-based inhibitors of SARS-CoV2 Macrodomain1”

My capstone is all about making small molecules to test against the macrodomain1 (Mac1) within the SARS-CoV2 virus. Mac1 is a really important structure within the virus because it helps the virus evade our immune system. Finding a molecule to stop this Mac1 function could be important for drug discovery.

I currently have a summer internship starting in July at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) in Prague, Czech Republic, conducting research in medicinal and organic chemistry with Dr. Pavel Majer. After I return to the States, I will be looking to apply to graduate school in chemistry.

I really cherish the different relationships I’ve made during my time at McDaniel. I definitely plan to come visit for alumni track meets and Homecoming.

Honestly, finding a college that was affordable played a key role in my college decision process. Receiving financial aid from McDaniel really allowed me to feel secure and comfortable with my decision to attend.

My stepdad, Michael Margiotta, graduated from the Hill in 1979. He raised me into the young woman I am today, and to carry his legacy of being a Green Terror has meant the world to me. To compete on the same track and to learn in the same buildings as he did is so, so special. The moments I got homesick during my freshman year, I always thought back to that fact, and I always felt a little less alone. My stepdad and his friends — Doug Barnes ’79, Ronnie Rhodes ’79, Steve Moritz ’79, and Shawn Shaffer ’79 — who all graduated from Western Maryland College and call themselves the “Clique,” are some of the most inspiring, kind-hearted, successful, and just overall wonderful people I know. To become a McDaniel alum and join this legacy is one of my biggest life accomplishments.