Antonio Paolo Gracias - Board Member, Ortus Foundation

Antonio is currently a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Psychology with Honors and a secondary concentration in Economics at Harvard University. Throughout his academic journey, Antonio has also engaged in various extracurricular activities that have allowed him to develop a diverse skill set. As a member of the Harvard Men's Rugby Team since 2021, he has not only contributed as a player but also taken on the responsibility of managing off and on-field equipment and game-day logistics for both the 1st and development teams. He is also a member of the Crimson Key Society. Among 300 candidates, he was selected as one of the 25 members of the society. In this role, Antonio creates and leads tours of Harvard University, providing insights and guidance to visitors and prospective students.

Prior to attending Harvard, Antonio completed his high school education at the University of Chicago Laboratory High School. He received accolades such as the National Hispanic Recognition Program Award and the University of Chicago Department of Economics Meritorious Achievement Award. Antonio's commitment to his studies was complemented by his involvement in extracurricular activities. As the Senior Captain of the Lab Maroons Men's Varsity Soccer Team from 2017 to 2021, he achieved remarkable milestones, including leading the team to their first state championship in the school’s 125-year history and receiving the Coach's Leadership Award.

Antonio was also Class President of the High School Student Council from 2020 to 2021. Even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, he successfully ran a virtual campaign, resulting in record-breaking student participation. He organized community activities to uplift and engage his peers during challenging times.  Antonio was selected as the Senior Class Commencement Speaker at graduation in 2021.

In terms of work experience, Antonio has demonstrated his analytical and financial skills as a Summer Analyst at Atreides Management, LP, in 2021. He also gained valuable experience as a Research Intern at the University of Chicago Department of Economics in the summer of 2020, focusing primarily on early childhood education research. Additionally, he worked as a Summer Intern at the LAUNCH Startup Accelerator in 2019, where he conducted research, collected data, and analyzed early-stage companies.

Antonio is fluent in Spanish, and his diverse interests include skiing, snowboarding, soccer, and investing, particularly in emerging technologies.  As a young board member of the Ortus Foundation, he is an active contributor to this mission-driven work and making a difference in the mental health crisis in his peer group of young adults.