Academic

ALUMPROFILE
Academy grad heads
to the University of
Michigan to study
engineering and physics
This past spring, Grosse Pointe Academy alum
Joseph Cavataio finished a busy orientation at the
University of Michigan, but agreed to answer a
number of questions about the time he spent at
both GPA and Cranbrook-Kingswood as well as
his future at Michigan and beyond.
Cavataio, who is a 2011 graduate of the
Academy, also recently found out that he’s
already received eight college credits from U-M
for Chinese and four for calculus based on
his performance in high school. He gave a big
shout-out for GPA’s chemistry class, saying that
it definitely prepared him well for high school
chemistry, which led to him placing out of all
of his required U-M chemistry classes—even
though he only took one honors chemistry class at
Cranbrook.
Cavataio is proud of his accomplishments at
Cranbrook—and there are many—but he is most
proud of the nonprofit he founded at the school
to help children around the world. Called “Cranes
for Change,” Cavataio’s organization has provided
assistance to children from Brazil, Haiti and
Indonesia, among others.
“We also organized and conducted a mission
to Nicaragua during my junior year where we
donated a computer and books to a rural school,”
he said. “And during my senior year, we visited
Honduras and worked with another nonprofit
organization that aids needy children. Cranes for
Change also is planning to use much of its funds
to build a rural school in Honduras.”
Among Cavataio’s other accomplishments and
accolades received during his time at Cranbrook
were making the Dean’s list every semester he
was there, a Chinese award as a freshman, a high
finish in the Chinese Quiz Bowl, and scoring
superior ratings in both Bach and Schoolcraft
piano competitions. (Cavataio has studied and
played classical piano for 12 years.)
He also was captain of the C-K tennis team
during his senior year, nominated for a scholarathlete
award and received most valuable player
honors in varsity tennis for the Cranes. And if all
of that didn’t keep him busy enough, Cavataio was
a member of the school’s robotics team, soccer
club and Entrepreneur Club.
WELL PREPARED
At Michigan, Cavataio plans to study physics
and engineering. “I am interested in both
medicine and engineering and thought this would
be a great way to combine both fields of interest,”
he said. “Students who major in engineering and
physics typically score the highest on the MCATs
(Medical College Admission Test) so it’s a great
vehicle to medical school if I chose to go that
route.”
As far as what kind of engineering he will
study in college, he’s not 100% sure, “but I am
interested in both the mechanical and chemical
areas.”
“The Academy definitely
prepared me to be a
leader.”
It’s pretty obvious that Cavataio has a bright
future and that with the education he’s received
from his elementary and high schools, he is well
prepared for college and for a career. He said
he’s especially grateful for the time spent at The
Grosse Pointe Academy, which for him began in
the Early School.
“The Academy definitely prepared me to be
a leader,” he said. “Because of the small class
sizes at GPA, we had the opportunity to be in
the limelight quite often and that gave me the
confidence to pursue leadership opportunities in
high school.”
He stressed again how well prepared he was
for most of his high school classes, including one
30 FALL 2015 / THE ACADEMIC