Meet our 2019 ATG Scholarship Finalists – Against The Grain Productions

Through our Scholarship Program, ATG proudly awards Artistic, Groundbreaker Leadership, #LiveLikeLyly and the Lily Pabilona Emerging Entrepreneur Scholarships to a select group of amazing Asian American high school seniors, college undergraduate and graduate school students who are shining examples of what it means to go Against The Grain. Since 2011, we have awarded more than $65,000 in scholarships. Our selection committee reviews a combination of criteria: GPA, extracurricular activities, portfolio, essay and letters of recommendation. Finalists are given a phone interview before deciding who will be our actual winners. Winners will be announced here and on Facebook, so stay tuned…

Meet Our 2019 Scholarship Finalists:

Alina Dong
Katherine Hui
Andrea Liu
Marty Loh-Deschaumes
David Malinowski
Juliet Ortiz
Angelina Retodo
Jeiying Tong
Kevin Tyan
Kevin Ung

What does it mean to go “Against The Grain?”

“To me, going ‘Against The Grain’ is when an individual chooses to resist the conformity of society’s preconceptions and expectations, and instead chooses to take pride in his or her unique passions. Being unafraid to stand out and be challenged in new and uncomfortable fields are what it means to go ‘Against The Grain.’”

How do you go “Against The Grain?”

“As an Asian American female in opera and politics (fields which are respectively dominated by non-Asians and males), I work to pave new paths in unexplored careers, create new opportunities for those like myself, and remain innovative so that I may serve as an example of someone who is unafraid to break the molds. I take pride in singing on opera stages and speaking at commission meetings in City Hall as an Asian American female.”

What does it mean to go “Against The Grain?”

“People who go ‘Against The Grain’ are the unconventional leaders, the curious thinkers, and the energetic dreamers who are passionate about improving the world with more than bold thought and brave action— they believe in the value of not only building oneself from the ground up and planting the seeds for others to blaze new trails. Aside from achieving personal goals, they emphasize the importance to aid others in reaching theirs; nobody has an obligation to be a genius, but we have an obligation to participate and go ‘Against The Grain.’”

How do you go “Against The Grain?”

“Like most artists, I work with my hands. But unlike most, I create masterpieces out of scrap wood, metal, and ‘broken’ parts. With an object that others might perceive as ‘broken’ or ‘dispensable,’ I see something that can be made into something new, beautiful, with purpose and life— not to be thrown into the massive overflowing wastes of buried garbage, but reused. From transforming scrap plywood into a beautiful harp or DC Motor fans from an old computer into a self-propelled, air levitating hovercraft, I’ve gained the courage needed to challenge our community’s perception of an object’s permanence and the social stigma against touching objects labeled ‘trash.’ ‘While an artist can choose whether or not to be responsive and responsible towards other human beings, by definition a designer must be.’ Determined to become an architect, I hope to shape a better world to live and work, harmonizing the built and natural environments because architecture is a field— unlike most arts— with community and social implications on daily life. By creating and innovating, I constantly strive to go ‘Against The Grain.'”

What does it mean to go “Against The Grain?”

“To me, going “Against The Grain” means listening to myself and diving head-first into my passion for art. As a mere college freshman, I have yet to determine where exactly this interest will take me, but I know with certainty that I cannot give it up. In the face of defaulting to a future with traditional security, I believe that only by understanding my own truth as a student can I then achieve personal growth. I want to make sure that every day, I challenge not only the “grain” of conformity, but also myself as well to become a better artist—and more importantly, a better person.”

How do you go “Against The Grain?”

“During the winter of my senior year, I took a course called “Imagining Your Future.” To do so, we reflected on what made us the happiest as children and endeavored to look only at our own desires. I soon realized that my past was filled with art; thus, my future should be too. This simplistic, self-centric view of “what’s next?” felt selfish at first, however: would I repay my parents for their sacrifices by entering a supposedly insecure or superfluous field? Thankfully, my time in school has also shown me that art is, in reality, far from selfish. I never considered myself an activist before arriving at Exeter in eleventh grade. Yet, as I settled in to this new community, I realized the importance of having a space to acknowledge the current state of affairs. From designing stickers to build excitement for our school’s Martin Luther King Jr. day of discussions, to helping create the first edition of The Asian—the only Asian(-American) literary magazine on campus—to explore our identity, to founding a publication dedicated to uniting different on-campus affinity groups to start important conversations, I realized that going “Against The Grain” is a mindset: art is empowering.”

What does it mean to go “Against The Grain?”

“Going ‘Against The Grain’ to me means creating nontraditional solutions to complex issues. The act of going against the grain usually involves completing something truly unconventional and perhaps even doubted by many. Moreover, going ‘Against The Grain’ refers to a leader or entrepreneur’s ability to proactively innovate solutions and think ‘outside of the box’ in the face of doubt and tradition. “

How do you go “Against The Grain?”

“I go ‘Against The Grain’ by pursuing entrepreneurial solutions to complex issues. My ‘Against The Grain’ journey began in a volunteer role with the LA Conservation Corps to support their mission of empowering at-risk young adults and minority groups within the LA region through conservation workforce development. I brainstormed a native plant nursery concept, intended to supplement the city’s landscaping demands while also creating another LACC revenue stream. This would allow the organization to streamline their current operations with the City of LA and increase funding for their workforce development efforts. At first, various members within the management team were doubtful, citing the stringent rules that govern nonprofit organizations and the apparent operational risk. However, through integration, cooperation, and communication with stakeholders, the LA nursery garden concept became viable. What started as an experiential learning activity transformed into a business plan and then a pitch to social enterprise funds. Through these fundraising events, the nursery concept netted the venture over $150,000 in startup seed capital and proposed social impact lending.”

David Malinowski | Springfield, VA | 23 years old | GPA: 3.75 | MFA in Studio Art (Sound Concentration) | School of the Art Institute Chicago | Asian/Caucasian

What does it mean to go “Against The Grain?”

“Although going ‘Against The Grain’ takes courage, it can result in innovation and increased understanding for both individual and community. It can be financially risky because society has been conditioned to support the average person rather than one who strays from the norm; emotionally risky because few people empathize with a direction that runs counter to expectations; and intellectually challenging because one has to develop new theories as one strays further from mainstream thought. That said, going ‘Against The Grain’ is necessary for the conception and advancement of revolutionary ideas.”

How do you go “Against The Grain?”

“I go ‘Against The Grain’ by questioning normative and traditional claims on a regular basis and as part of my artistic practice. I explore new psychologies of and relationships between art makers, performers, and interpreters, and their effects on the resulting art. Examples include audience imagination, performer anarchy, audience interaction, and net.art. I also apply traditional music analysis and form to traditionally non-musical mediums, and vice versa. I am on the forefront of sound spatialization, a new parameter of sound. I encourage the composer, performer, and audience to adopt a new perspective, expand their definition of art, explore and question their intrinsic truths, and conduct informal experiments, all while sharing in an enjoyable experience. I am a serious and fearless performer of new music on electronics, method acting, piano, and body percussion. Recently, I was a major contributor to the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology, a world-class immersive multimedia venue. To go ‘Against The Grain’ of traditional music composition, I redefine what constitutes music and blur boundaries between art disciplines in the emerging and innovative field of sound art.”

What does it mean to go “Against The Grain?”

“Going ‘Against The Grain’ means pursuing your passions with authenticity, dedication, and resilience, even when doing so isn’t always the easiest option. It calls for breaking the boundaries of what others might consider “acceptable” in order to carve out the path that is meant for you. Even when you face judgement or disapproval, it is crucial to continue embracing, celebrating, and creating what is most important to you. Everyone expresses themselves in unique ways and going ‘Against The Grain’ allows us to reach our full potential, without pressure to conform to what others expect of us.

“How do you go “Against The Grain?”

“I go ‘Against The Grain’ by pursuing a career in recorded music as a Chinese American, even though I see few Chinese Americans in the recording industry whose footsteps I can follow. Music is everything to me, so rather than letting that lack of representation intimidate me, I use it as a motivating force to keep performing and to increase diversity in the music industry by inspiring other Asian Americans to pursue the arts. I have been writing, performing, and recording my own music for years and am taking my next big step this Fall, as I attend the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, a program designed to create entrepreneurs for the modern music industry. I will be learning about production, songwriting, marketing, branding, and performing. Even though there isn’t much Chinese American representation in today’s music industry, I will continue to work hard blazing my own path as an artist. Not only do I hope I can succeed in the field I am most passionate about, but I hope that in doing so I will encourage other racial minorities to stand up to any criticisms with an open mind and heart but to still push forward to achieve their dreams.”

What does it mean to go “Against The Grain?

“To go ‘Against The Grain’ is to challenge the expectations of society by carving your own path and taking risks so you can fully express an experience that is individual to yourself. Those that go against the grain often evolve into architects of our future, since they have the willpower to sculpt society to their vision and introduce the world to a new perspective. The battle against complacency is often difficult, and requires innovative thinking and experimentation without fear of failure. It is those that overcome this battle that become remarkable people who truly go against the grain.”

How do you go “Against The Grain?”

“Throughout history, artists have remodeled their interpretations of the status quo into new ideas that reflect their own reality. In effect, the work of artists often sparks new ideas for the world and future artists to indulge in. Through this creative process, artists become natural forward thinkers who make it their prerogative to go against the grain and truly introduce themselves to the world. It is through this continuous staircase of artists building upon the vestiges of the past to create the new that has allowed art to cultivate the world that we live in today and the future we will live tomorrow. As an artist myself, I plan to leave my own footprints within society, by combining my own inspirations and experiences with the fascinating magic of animation. By pursuing a career that allows me to create stories and entire worlds for others to enjoy I hope to use animation to share my own wisdom and project my own interpretations of the human experience to others. As an aspiring animator, I hope to dedicate my life to creating something special and true to my own identity, while empowering future generations as well.”

What does it mean to go “Against The Grain?”

“Going ‘Against The Grain’ means to challenge common beliefs, to create something out of nothing, and to persevere with one’s goals even when society favors otherwise. Those who go ‘Against The Grain’ refuse to be limited by the opportunities presented to them. Rather, they create opportunities for themselves and for others using the resources they are presented with.”

How do you go “Against The Grain?”

“I go ‘Against The Grain’ by choosing my own path instead of letting the world determine it for me. Growing up, I refused to be limited by the status quo. I aspired to be a songwriter as well as a musician. I dreamt of being an innovator, not just a leader. I wanted to help others achieve their goals along with myself. Like any dream, mine came with endless obstacles. Record companies didn’t accept music from composers who weren’t already well-known. What was the point of developing my musicianship if no one would ever play my songs? Therefore, I began to create my own opportunities. Instead of waiting to be discovered by a label, I started my own. J&J Industries LLC allows me to not only share my music with the world, but also share my dream with other young people. In addition, I can give artists across the country the chance to have their voices heard. Today, I continue to go ‘Against The Grain’ by breaking through the limits of the status quo. I strive to create more opportunities for others to achieve their goals.”

What does it mean to go “Against The Grain?”

“Going ‘Against The Grain’ means innovating in a space that is resistant to change while maintaining steady faith that your work will ultimately benefit the lives of many. It requires one to have the audacity to disrupt traditional industries, shed light on fundamental flaws in the system, and advance new solutions. Going ‘Against The Grain’ embodies the ethos of what I have strived for through entrepreneurship, and is the mindset that has helped me overcome failures, grow beyond inexperience, and contribute my unique perspective to some of the world’s most pressing problems.”

How do you go “Against The Grain?”

“My experience as an inventor and founder of Kinnos has been intensely formative. From working to protect Ebola fighters to expanding our mission towards reducing healthcare associated infections, these past few years have allowed me to learn and grow beyond the traditional classroom. By inventing a new color-changing disinfection method and helping to deploy it on the front lines of Ebola epidemics, I have gone ‘Against The Grain’ through eschewing a traditional career path and bringing change to outdated methods in dire need of innovation.

Through this entire experience of starting Kinnos, both my perception of the healthcare field and my self-expectations have evolved. Initially, I viewed the physician’s role as the important, yet singular task of healing patients. Now, I see that I can contribute to medicine not just by treating my patients, but also by devising solutions to challenges in healthcare. Few are better equipped than physicians to live through and diagnose the shortfalls of the healthcare system. I hope to go ‘Against The Grain’ in the medical profession by not only treating people and saving lives, but also improving its methods and tools through entrepreneurship.”

What does it mean to go “Against The Grain?”

“Going ‘Against The Grain’ is doing something that scares you, because it isn’t expected of you. Asian Americans are supposed to be America’s ‘model minority’: smart and obedient to a fault. I reject this—this is not who we are—we are unique individuals with fascinating stories. With this scholarship, I will show the world that Asian Americans have unique stories that deserve to be told.”

How do you go “Against The Grain?”

“I go ‘Against The Grain’ by never giving up my filmmaking dreams after almost a decade of working and always keeping film close to my heart. It is a dream that isn’t typically expected of a child of refugees, but it is one that I am intent on pursuing. There needs to be more Asian American representation in Hollywood and that is exactly what I plan to do. The Asian Americans before me paved the way, and I plan to further their progress so that future generations will be confident that people care about our stories. I will try to break down barriers to show the world that Asian Americans can and will be a driving force in cinema and entertainment. There are very real racial barriers in Hollywood, and there is a lot of work to be done. I’ve been warned by others from working in Hollywood because of my ethnicity, but if not now, then when? It’s about time the world sees Asian American stories, and I aim to help make this a reality.”

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