Meet Graicen

Graicen (’24) loves to sail, play volleyball, and participate in environmental cleanups and research. In her free time, she is teaching herself to speak Norwegian.

Since she began sailing five years ago, Graicen completed her crew and first mate ranks, and consistently places in regattas as both skipper and crew. She is an expert at racing skills and drills, heavy wind and light wind racing strategies, tying knots (some blindfolded), and man-overboard and capsizing procedures. She has taught sailing through her club’s leadership program.

Graicen is also an experienced canoer and swimmer. She has been responsible for leading an overnight canoeing trip, including mapping the route, packing food and gear, portage for the canoes, chopping wood, and building campfires.

She recently participated in S.E.A. Expedition, a two-week oceanographic trip aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer. Graicen took samples of sediment, zooplankton, phytoplankton, and more. She also aided with lab and data processing. During day and night watches, she was responsible for navigating, sailing, and handling the ship. Graicen also helped in engine room; kept ship logs; and reported to the captain and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Her environmental activities include Hackensack River and Clean Ocean Action cleanups, and trail maintenance at New Jersey Audubon Society’s Lorrimer Sanctuary.

Graicen is now co-captain of the AHA Varsity Volleyball Team. She also plays with a club team, where she earned the Coach’s Award, Congeniality Award, and Team Spirit Award. Her friendly, helpful nature also earned her AHA’s Sister Catherine Green Kindness Award.

As a junior, Graicen received the George Eastman Young Leaders Award, and studied critical thinking and public speaking at AHA’s bespoke Oxford Study Abroad Program. She was the inaugural recipient of AHA’s Spirituality and Service Scholarship.

Graicen is a contributor to the Academy’s Middle States Association Committee. She is also an Angel Ambassador, whose activities include conducting campus tours, hosting visiting students, and participating in AHA Admissions panels.

The summer before her senior year, she represented AHA at the BERGEN Magazine Teen Forum.

Graicen is active with the AHA Writer’s Society and serves as editor-in-chief of “Blueprint,” which recently received the National Council of English Teachers Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines Award. She is president of the Slavic Baltic Cultural Society and a member of the Art Club.

This motivated scholar-athlete is a member of the National Honor Society, the Latin National Honor Society, and the Art National Honor Society.