From excelling in her studies to juggling a host of extracurriculars, she has truly mastered the art of doing it all.  Abigail Cudnik, affectionately known as AJ, has truly accomplished everything. Whether she’s immersed in her studies, taking charge of the Seahawk’s Eye newspaper, or enjoying a brisk run, AJ consistently demonstrates that she is far from an ordinary high school student.

Cudnik discovered a deep passion for reading and writing from a young age. “I was a really big reader as a kid, I was the kid that wanted to have the most AR points every year, and I did for like five years straight,” she recalled. Whether collecting Accelerated Reader (AR) points or enjoying a good book, her love of reading was evident.

In addition to literary pursuits, Cudnik has always enjoyed staying active. She found her love for lacrosse at a young age and has continued to play ever since. “ I didn’t play it throughout school because at the time there wasn’t a lacrosse team at my previous school, I found a random flyer and went to try out for it, and eventually fell in love with it,” she shared.

Eventually, Cudnik moved to Cape Coral, Florida. where she attended Saint Andrew Catholic School until seventh grade before transferring to Saint Michael Lutheran School for her eighth grade year. During her search for a high school, she discovered the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which captured her interest and imagination.

“I wanted to challenge myself, and I wanted something that was going to force me to stay involved. What I loved about IB so much was kind of that very well-rounded approach to academics and extracurriculars,” Cudnik shared. 

Despite the demanding coursework associated with IB, Cudnik never felt the temptation to give up. “ I don’t think there was ever a moment where I was like ‘oh my god, I want to quit IB,’ I don’t think I ever got to that point. I know there were a lot of people that were on the fence towards the end of sophomore year, it was never that for me,” she continued, “I always knew that I was going to finish IB because it was never an option for me in my head that I was going to drop IB.”

Cudnik’s commitment to the IB program also inspired her dedication to another passion. From the start of her freshman year, she was captivated by the Seahawks Eye. Over her four years of high school, she progressed  from a staff writer to copy editor, ultimately taking on the esteemed position of Editor In Chief

“I knew that the cape had a newspaper program, so that was part of the draw. I wanted to be in the newspaper – I went into highschool wanting to be a part of a newspaper staff and to have that sort of connection between like minded peers who wanted similar things, and I think I found that on staff, and I am really happy with my staff that I’ve had across the last four years” Cudnik expressed.

Cudnik credits her former editors-in-chief for shaping her into the leader she has become for the Seahawks’ eye.

“I had great experiences with my co-editor in chief last year, Renee Bella, and I think I was mentored in kind of a unique and very hands-on approach by Clare McMillan, my freshman year, and then in continuity with Abby Malloy and Marina Passos, my sophomore year,” Cudnik reflected. “ I think their opposite ways of teaching me to take control and be more hands-on with the paper really led me to be successful and kind of mold it into what it is today.”

Cudnik views her role as editor-in-chief of the Seahawks’ Eye as a ‘challenging but rewarding experience,’ noting the significant amount of time and effort she invested to make the paper the best it could be before her departure.

“When we got the influx of sophomores into the actual class this year, once the second semester began, I saw it become what it used to be. It was a really strange experience for me because it felt so distinctly similar to what I had been exposed to in my freshman year and somewhat of what my sophomore year looked like,” Cudnik shared.

Over the past four years, Cudnik has witnessed the newspaper navigate numerous phases – from a thriving production with numerous staff writers to times of struggle. Yet, despite the challenges and triumphs, she successfully got the Seahawks’ Eye through it. Among many memorable moments she has had, Cudnik considered this year to be particularly unforgettable, as she observed the newspaper reach new heights reminiscent of its glory days.

“It was a really weird but kind of exciting moment for me, because I think that was the point in time where I felt confident in the state of the paper next year, and I felt confident in how it was going to thrive next year and be successful without me,” Cudnik shared.

Working her way up from a staff writer to the editor-in-chief of such a respected publication has always been a gratifying experience for her. However, for Cudnik, the most fulfilling days have always been distribution days.

“Release day for me has always been that kind of  ‘aha’ moment. Always that reward moment,” Cudnik said. “ When I could see all the hard work come to fruition, and see all of that effort that we had spent on whatever edition, whether it was an eight-pager or a 16-pager. I could hold it in my physical hands, and I could see and smell the print.”

To Cudnik, there’s nothing quite like a newspaper fresh off the printing press, and she treasures those days deeply. Yet, as with all good things, this chapter of her life is coming to a close. Cudnik is heading towards new adventures at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, where she plans to remain involved with the newspaper staff.

She intends to major in neuroscience on a pre-med track. In arriving at this decision, Cudnik explored various career paths, including communications, travel journalism, forensics, and criminal defence, before finally landing on neuroscience.

“My end goal is to become a neurosurgeon, I have always been really drawn to the human body – I specifically focus on neurosurgery selfishly because of my own health problems. I have had chronic migraines since I was like 12, and my mom has them as well. My family has had a history of aneurysms as well,” Cudnik explained.

After twelve long years of schooling, Cudnik is primed to embark on her journey of adulthood and college life. Her friends and family are immensely proud of the person she has become, both academically and personally.

“I would say that both her mother and I have been very impressed with the person she has become. I don’t know that either of us have seen someone work as hard as she does or as dedicated as she has to,” Michael Cudnik remarked.

Her parents proudly describe her as someone mature beyond her years, and a true inspiration to others, a sentiment shared by many.  

Her brother, Josh Cudnik, expressed, “AJ and her academic success has inspired me to strive to be the best I can be. Especially with her being a three-sport student athlete, she has grown to become a great person out of the classroom with her volunteer work in our community.”

Cudnik’s family stands as her biggest supporters, but her influence extends far beyond them, but everyone around her. Her friends witness her unwavering dedication and strong work ethic, motivating them to reach their fullest potential.

“AJ has always been a diligent and hard-working person, and I believe being around her only pushed me to work harder and reach beyond what I thought I could achieve,” shared Sabrina Dong.

“AJ has definitely inspired me academically – even though she’s a year younger than me, I think she’s ten steps ahead of me in some areas. So many things AJ has are because not only is she smart, but she knows her strengths, which I think will get her really far in life. I’m excited to see what she achieves,” noted Renne Bella. 

Alongside Dong and Bella, Hannah Green has also experienced the profound impact Cudnik has had on her life.

“She taught me to stand my ground and to be comfortable in my own skin, to be confident in myself. She’s someone who carries herself with a lot of confidence, a lot of pride, because she knows who she is as a person. I think she has really allowed me to hold myself accountable for things and allowed me to grow into my own skin and to be comfortable with that.”

Cudnik is undoubtedly a source of inspiration to everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her radiant smile and accountability will serve her well in the future. From her involvement with the Seahawks Eye to the lacrosse and cross country teams. Cudnik’s drive inspires greatness. 

Her mother, Shelley Cudnik, tells her, “Take everything one step at a time. Don’t get stressed, and live in the moment. I love you.”