Accepting the Challenge to Lead

Along with seeking a mechanical engineering degree, Connor Grigg '20 had a personal goal in mind when he came to Bucknell. He wanted to become a stronger leader.

Choosing the University to meet his academic aims was easy for the North Carolina native, who discovered a love of engineering in high school, where he was captain of a robotics team. However, Grigg wanted more than a standard engineering education.

"I was looking forward to being surrounded by people with different backgrounds, cultures and ways of seeing the world," Grigg says. "I very much wanted to attend a liberal arts university with an engineering program. Bucknell stood out to me."

Grigg also knew that he wanted to challenge himself to seek leadership roles on campus, and he was happily surprised by the opportunities available to him.

"I expected some sort of barrier to entry that just wasn't there," Grigg says. "If you seek opportunities, they are here for you."

Along with serving as co-vice president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and as a member of the planning committee for Bucknell's annual BizPitch competition, Grigg took charge of the University's TEDx event after only a year of involvement.

"The TED Talks mantra is 'ideas worth spreading'," Grigg says. "I love the idea of giving students, alumni and faculty a platform that is so well-recognized, where they can share their thoughts on everything from things they noticed walking down the street to really impactful experiences. I'm excited to be able to do that at Bucknell."

Grigg adds that he expects to work as an engineer before pursuing a career in business - another interest he discovered at Bucknell.

"I've really learned a lot about myself," he notes. "Being at Bucknell has shown me that working with people is my biggest passion."

Connor is from Durham, N.C.

To view these students click here: https://bucknell.meritpages.com/achievements/Accepting-the-Challenge-to-Lead/99383