Alumni Spotlight: Andre Graves, Gold Award Holder
In our Alumni Spotlight series, we highlight outstanding Award Holders and share their experience. We hope to celebrate their accomplishments and inspire others in the Award family.
For our Fall 2024 Spotlight, we will hear from Andre Graves, a Gold Award Holder based in Washington, DC and attending university in New Jersey. He completed the Gold Level through our virtual Open Award Center.
Tell us a little about yourself!
Currently, I attend Princeton University studying Electrical and Computer Engineering. I am interested in the intersections between hardware and software within our lives. As such, I am part of an engineering team called Princeton Electric Speedboating, working on what is currently the world’s fastest electric boat, while also part of Princeton’s Entrepreneurship Club (E-Club) working on a software competition for AI agents. Alongside that, I am also part of Princeton’s Latin dance company called Más Flow, putting together and dancing in performances both on campus and beyond.
What were your activities and goals for your Award Level?
Voluntary Service: My voluntary service was actually split between two goals during my time with the Award. The first was supporting a local non-profit that dedicated itself towards presenting Peruvian Folkloric Dane in Central Florida, assisting in show production, event logistics, and eventually dancing. As my role grew to more towards dancing after having found a passion for it, I instead dedicated my service towards supporting my school’s Key Club, organizing projects to uphold our community through environmental and social service.
Skills: I dedicated myself to learning the piano to a higher degree. Although I had some prior experience, I had left piano and felt like the Award would be a perfect way to not only take it back up, but drive myself to go beyond just learning the basics. I set out to learn a variety of pieces in different styles, taking up anything from jazz, to classical, to occasional pop piano cover, all while learning the underlying theory that comes with greater piano technique.
Physical Recreation: Although originally intending to do to swimming, I ended up following a personally-set weight lifting goal. Having never touched a dumbbell prior to starting the Award, I researched what I could and made myself a plan, originally working out once a week, then twice, then three times, until I kept beating my goals of strength building by working out five times a week.
Adventurous Journey: I went on an expedition in both urban and rural Peru to explore various culturally significant sites of ancient and modern-day significance. In that, I explored the modern setting of Lima mixed with the ancient history scattered around the city. I also traveled into the deserts in Ica, looking at how the balance between these two worlds is preserved.
Gold Project: I worked with the P.A.L.S. program hosted at the University of Central Florida, gaining leadership skills and bettering my interpersonal communication. I spent a week at the university working with others to gain a greater understanding of what it means to uphold a diverse community without compromising each other’s values, all while acting in service of our community.
What did you learn about yourself through the Award?
Above all, I certainly learned dedication with the Award. The long timespan enables you to not only begin projects that you often dream of picking up, but stick to them with a sense of satisfaction and meaning. Eventually, this satisfaction slowly transitions from pushing for the Award, to instead a personal endeavor that you yourself become dedicated to see through. That, I believe, was the feeling that I learned to harness with the Award, certainly the most powerful takeaway that I still utilize today.
Would you recommend the Award to others? If so, why?
I would definitely recommend the Award to others as it gives you a push to try new things or take your hobbies to the next level. With the Award, I ended up gaining a passion for dance which I still continue at Princeton. I took my skills on the piano to another level instead of being comfortable with what I knew. I set out to explore, to learn, to lead, all originally for the Award, but ultimately for my own personal growth.
Do you have any tips or advice to share with Award Participants and Alumni?
Remain dedicated and above all, be kind.
If you would like more information on how to participate in the Award, please contact info@usaward.org today!