Meet Graicen

Meet Graicen ’24 — Explorer, Leader, Changemaker

At the Academy of the Holy Angels, students are empowered to explore boldly, lead with compassion, and make a meaningful impact. Graicen ’24 did just that, and more.

A scholar-athlete, artist, and environmental advocate, Graicen brought passion and purpose to everything she pursued. She served as co-captain of the AHA Varsity Volleyball Team and played with a competitive club team, where she earned the Coach’s Award, Team Spirit Award, and Congeniality Award. Her warm, inclusive spirit was also recognized with the Sister Catherine Green Kindness Award.

Graicen’s love for the outdoors and the environment led her to some remarkable experiences. She completed the S.E.A. Expedition, a two-week oceanographic research voyage aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer. Onboard, she collected and analyzed marine samples, stood watch during day and night shifts, maintained ship logs, and even reported to the U.S. Coast Guard. She also assisted in the ship’s lab and engine room, taking part in every aspect of life at sea.

An avid sailor, Graicen earned her crew and first mate ranks and consistently placed in regattas as both skipper and crew. She mastered advanced sailing techniques, including blindfolded knot-tying, capsizing procedures, and man-overboard drills—and shared her skills by teaching younger sailors through her club’s leadership program.

Her environmental efforts extended to local trail maintenance and cleanups with the Hackensack Riverkeeper and Clean Ocean Action, as well as the New Jersey Audubon Society’s Lorrimer Sanctuary. She is also a skilled canoer and swimmer, having led overnight trips that required her to plan routes, pack gear, portage canoes, and build campfires.

At AHA, Graicen contributed to campus life as an Angel Ambassador and member of the Middle States Association Committee. She led tours, hosted visitors, participated in admissions panels, and proudly represented Holy Angels at the BERGEN Magazine Teen Forum.

She also explored academic opportunities beyond the classroom, earning the George Eastman Young Leaders Award and participating in AHA’s bespoke Oxford Study Abroad Program. As the inaugural recipient of AHA’s Spirituality and Service Scholarship, Graicen modeled the school’s core values in everything she did.

Creative and thoughtful, Graicen was president of the Slavic Baltic Cultural Society, a member of the Art Club, and editor-in-chief of Blueprint, AHA’s award-winning literary magazine. She was also a proud member of the National Honor Society and the National Art Honor Society.

Now attending Colgate University, Graicen continues to chart her own course, guided by curiosity, courage, and a deep commitment to serving others.

Her story is a powerful example of how an Angel’s journey is rooted in purpose and boundless in possibility.