Andrew Krauss ’08, who proposed a project that draws on his lifelong passion for making boats go fast, is among 50 college seniors who have been awarded a prestigious Watson Fellowship.
Krauss will travel to Tonga, the Cook Islands and the French Polynesia to research the development of outrigger canoes and paddles. A double major in Philosophy and Mechanical Engineering, Krauss was a member of the crew team at Union.
The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship Program offers a one-year grant to graduating college seniors “of unusual promise” to study independently outside the United States. The stipend for individual award winners is $25,000.
“The awards are long-term investments in people, not research,” said Rosemary Macedo, executive director of the Watson Fellowship Program. “We look for people likely to lead or innovate in the future and give them extraordinary independence in pursuing their interests. They must have passion, creativity and a feasible plan.”
In addition to Krauss, two other Union seniors, Robbie Flick and Andy Laccetti, were among five alternates for a fellowship. Flick’s project, “Living on the Edge: Studying the Conceptual Edges of Society,” would take him to Bhutan, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea and Tuvalu. Lacetti would travel to Argentina, Brazil, China and India for his project, “Hear the Healing: A Cross-Cultural Exploration of Music Therapy and Its Implementation in Four Countries.”
Joey Hunziker '08 was Union’s fourth Watson nominee.
“We are extraordinarily proud of all four of our nominees,” said History Professor Joyce Madancy, chair of the College’s Watson Fellowship Committee. “It’s especially thrilling to have another Watson Fellow on campus, along with two alternates.”
Past Watson winners from Union include Noah Eber-Schmid ’06, who investigated punk music and culture in Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway and Finland; Adam Grode ’05, who studied long-necked lutes in Central Asia; and Nori Lupfer ’03, who photographed circuses in motion on several continents.
For a complete list of this year’s Watson winners, click here.
To read more about Union’s four nominees and their projects, click here.