
Gustavo dos Reis
Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts
Gustavo dos Reis, a junior at Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts, is the co-head of his school's Department of Equity, Inclusion, and Justice board. In the past, along with other inspiring board members, Gustavo has sought to raise student knowledge on cultures and diversity, with projects including a festival that featured 28 cultural tables at his school, an educational curriculum on identity-related resources available to more than 300 campus residents and events tied to holidays such as Martin Luther King Day and Haitian Independence Day. Gustavo has also worked with more than 130 international students on campus, leading weekly affinity spaces, engaging in annual conferences, presenting at the annual International Student Assembly and organizing two international senior celebration banquets. Similar to his efforts with international students, he mentors incoming students at the start of the school year, approaching topics on compassion, privilege and diversity to ensure an equitable student transition into a predominantly-white institution. In an academic setting, Gustavo aspires to provide visibility to students of color and their experiences at Milton Academy: he co-leads the production of an interactive, 150-year timeline of race at Milton Academy, highlighting past progress but also provoking campus discussion on needed action, through newspaper archives. Finally, Gustavo, along with another student, works to create an annual conference for Latine students in independent schools. Beyond high school, Gustavo plans to mentor younger students in their efforts to advance diversity and justice outreach.