The Pineapple Incident

Kiara Sanchez

WRC - Junior - PSYC + SOCI - Laredo, TX - Advisor

Kiara Sanchez was born a star, much like her idol, Beyonce. She’s Beyonce’s number one fan – she will adore you if you profess your love for Queen Bey or Selena (she thinks she’s Selena reincarnated), and you will form an instantaneous bond. This chica calls Laredo, Texas (on the border of Mexico) her home and English her native tongue. Don’t let her accent fool you, this girl doesn’t speak a word of Spanish. This junior Psychology-Sociology double major and Poverty, Justice and Human Capabilities minor has big hopes for a future in child development and education. She’s already got research experience under her belt and will be studying abroad in Ghana in the fall. When she’s not busy with schoolwork, she’s lighting up the dance floor with Rice Dance Theatre. She made her debut on Rice Dance Theatre just this year and captured the hearts and minds of the entire audience and moved them to tears. Besides her dance moves, her wide collection of hot sauces might also bring a tear to your eye; Kiara has a passion for fiery foods. She also has a weakness for sweets, and you can probably catch her in the kitchen baking birthday treats for those lucky enough to call her an advisor. You’ll have a hard time finding a more spunky, fun-loving and caring person. Look forward to a great O-Week and first year!

- Cynthia Bau, WRC ‘16 + Michelle Huang, WRC ‘16

Katherine Cai

Brown - Senior - POLI + POST - San Jose, CA - Co-Advisor

In the Rice savanna, one alpha female dominates the grounds. Genus: Katherine. Species: Cai. Careful: this lioness may be a #CaliforniaGurl, but don’t be fooled by her sweet smile and abnormally disarming voice. Everyone finds themselves torn between caution and curiosity when they see this Kat on the prowl. Her ombre mane of hair, multiple ear piercings, and impeccable fashion sense, setting trends like pleather and floral left and right, hint there’s more to this feline fatale than first meets the eye. Though she has a fraternal twin half her size, this Kat is unique. When she’s not running the pre-law pack on campus as president of Legalese, former Chief Justice at Brown, or officer at the Baker Institute Student Forum (#WhoRunTheWorld #ThisGirl #NoButReallyTho), she can be found working out, bopping her head to hardcore rap songs featuring female pop vocalists, and watching TV shows of questionable yet admittedly addictive quality, like “The Bachelorette” and MTV’s “Friendzone.” Here she approaches, strutting fiercely toward the incoming new students as their O-Week advisor. The life of a dominant female is a tough one; but what’s this? As she nears her new students, it looks as if the caring mother lioness is…smiling! Prancing about with playfulness and delight -- no doubt she will always be there to lend a sympathetic ear or helping hand to her young cubs as they traverse the kingdom. Lovingly, she leads her new students through the doors of Will Rice, as their journey through the wild savanna begins…

- Nicole Zhao, Brown ‘15

Aakash Shah

WRC - Sophomore - CAAM + MATH - Westlake, OH - Advisor

Some call him hilarious, others call him interesting. But everybody calls him ridiculous! You’ve been blessed by the Gods and Goddesses of Will Rice of having Aakash Shah as your advisor. No day at Will Rice is complete without hearing a story from someone who never fails to make anyone laugh. Coming from Cleveland, Ohio, Aakash followed Lebron James’ footsteps and got the heck out of there. You can catch him regularly at the Hoot complaining about his lack of tetra points or walking around campus playing the flute with a posse of fangirls. Seriously, if it’s the day before a major exam, ask Aakash (stage name: Kaaash $$) to blow away your stress to the tunes of his magical flute. His love for professors and academia drives him through the semester as he can stay up all night talking to you about the research and family life of every professor at Rice. Having spent this past summer in Africa and traveling the world playing the flute since middle school, Aakash can offer you some of the most genuine and honest advice in the most unconventional yet effective ways. His thirst for knowledge gives him a wide range of advice from getting involved within Rice to his favorite hospitals in the Texas Medical Center to avoiding laundry for months. Get ready for your O-Week, because once you meet Aakash, you will never frown again. His loyalty to you will be unmatched as he is not afraid to do the unexpected to be the best advisor ever.

- Ankush Agrawal, WRC ‘17

John Robertson-Lopez

WRC - Senior - CHBE - Waco, TX - Gopher

John Robertson-Lopez. Like a cool breeze in the middle of the Houston summer, this Texan belle is always welcome, no matter the occasion. Short but sweet, John possesses the sculpted muscles of a rhinoceros, the soft heart of a Dalmatian, and the intelligence of an exceptionally gifted dolphin. This Will Ricer exemplifies college pride in everything he does from his roles as IM Sports Rep to the Will Rice Community Director. Yet while these positions of power might have an effect on lesser men, the phoenix prince remains cheerful and humble through it all. John Robertson might be a senior but his endearing witticisms, instantly comforting personality and limited stature make him highly relatable to a younger audience. Loving everything from old school comics and Pokemon to football and Taco Bell, Robertson is more than just a special snowflake. He’s one of my greatest friends and will undoubtedly be an ever better mentor during your time at Rice.

- Vinay Kotamarti, WRC ‘15