HWS News
30 June 2025 • Alums • Athletics Creativity, Curiousity and Community at the Core of Graduate's Journey
Brooke Prochniak ’25 blends her artistic passion and career ambition during her liberal arts education.
In May, Brooke Prochniak ’25 graduated magna cum laude from Hobart and William Smith, capping a college experience defined by academic excellence, creative exploration and personal growth. Earning a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Society with a minor in Entrepreneurial and Management Studies, Prochniak leaves HWS with a powerful sense of purpose—and a portfolio that illustrates her time on campus.
A four-year student-athlete on the William Smith swimming and diving team who was named a Liberty League All-Academic three times, Prochniak embraced opportunities to lead, reflect and evolve. Originally recruited to play lacrosse for HWS, Prochniak had to adapt after an injury sidelined her from the lacrosse team. She joined the swimming and diving team to stay in shape and cross-train but ultimately her passion and competitiveness kept her in the pool where she then broke the pool record in the women’s 200-yard freestyle relay in 2023.
“I am so grateful that I was able to continue my athletic endeavors at HWS, regardless of my injuries. I am proud of myself and thankful for my coaches who continued to be extremely supportive after having hip surgery and allowing me to come back and finish out my swim career.”
Prochniak held internships with The CW Network in Philadelphia, and with the Community Development Society in Geneva, served as a teaching assistant for Media and Society, and was the recipient of the William Scandling Trustee Scholarship, the Gilman International Scholarship, and membership in the National Communication Association Honor Society. As a junior she studied abroad in Lisbon, Portugal.
In addition, she did an independent student called Doorways to My Past which showcased her ability to blend narrative, structure and personal insight.
Along with courses such as “Cultures of Advertising” and “Economic Principles,” Doorways to My Past, a watercolor series capturing the entrances to buildings that shaped her HWS experience, began in Professor of American Studies Kirin Makker’s “Drawing and Storytelling” course. Although she had never considered herself an artist, Prochniak was drawn to the expressive, intuitive quality of watercolor. “There was something about watercolor, and how it moves, how it feels that made me want to explore that side of myself,” she says.
Prochniak say Makker impacted her view of HWS. “Professor Makker reminded me that faculty really do want to help and support you – you just have to be the one to ask. Her support, kindness, encouragement and authenticity allowed me to discover a new hobby that has now turned into an entrepreneurial venture.”
With Makker’s guidance, she designed an independent study that combined technical development with emotional storytelling. Each doorway she painted, including Scandling Campus Center, Demarest Hall, the Gearan Center, Monaco’s Coffee and the Bozzuto Boathouse, represents a milestone or moment of reflection during her time in Geneva.
“My goal was to capture the memories that made HWS special to me academically, socially and personally,” she says. “It felt empowering to take ownership of my education and focus on something that mattered to me. I learned to manage my time and gained confidence in my creative voice.”
As she looks to the future, she’s interested in roles at sports marketing agencies, PR firms and brands involved in sponsorships that allow her to apply her creativity professionally, while continuing to paint on the side.
“I will always be grateful for my liberal arts education and the community that helped me become who I am today,” she says. “Every opportunity, whether in the classroom, pool or studio, pushed me to think creatively, lead with empathy and stay curious.”
Top: Watercolors from Brooke Prochniak's '25 series "Doorways to my Past" are displayed.
