Grad Student: Alek Kaknevicius

Name: Alek Kaknevicius 
Age: 23 
Major: Electrical Engineering 
Year: Grad Student 
Hometown: Toronto, Canada 
Relationship status: In a relationship 
Favorite foods: Steak; Rib-eye, NY Strip, Filet Mignon, Duck; All types of cheeses 
Favorite music: “I like most type of music in general, but for studying purposes, I would say classical music; I enjoy anything with a major influence of piano. For my workout music, I listen to the general hard rock like Rise Against and then normally a mixture of things.” 
Favorite TV Show: Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones 
Celebrity Crush: Daenerys Targaryen (character from Game of Thrones) 
Favorite Quote: “If you’re afraid, don’t do it, but if you’re doing it, don’t be afraid.” 
Hobbies: “Martial Arts. I’m an instructor on campus for Cuong Nhu Martial Arts. I enjoy working out, reading, cooking, and video games as a typical engineer would have that type of hobby.” 
Are you involved with any clubs or organizations on campus? No. 
What’s something readers wouldn’t know by just looking at you? “Something interesting is that I shave with a straight edge razor.” 
Celebrity Look-a-Like: Tom Welling.
How would you describe yourself using one word? “I’m going to go with practical. It’s a driving force for a lot of what I do. A lot of times I don’t have an opinion on something, and the result is me going with the most practical option. I guess practical or unbiased, because I like to have the full picture of everything rather than having something set in stone a certain way. I try to stay so open-minded that sometimes I don’t have much of an opinion myself.” 
If you had one super power what would it be? “Wolverine’s power. The power to regenerate health. I feel like asking for the claws would be too much.” 
Where would you go on an all-expense paid trip? Japan. “The culture has a lot I have not personally experienced.” 
Do you have any hidden talents? “I did acting in middle and high school. I focused on improvisation. I don’t really flash it around, but I am also a black belt in Kung-Nu.” 
How did you get into in Kung-Nu? “I’ve always been interested in martial arts and have been physically active. Martial Arts is a way for me to actually use these strengths, speed, agility — all that kind of stuff that I’ve been working towards. Kung-Nu was the one that fit me best.” 
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? “I just accepted a job from Texas Instruments, and I’ve already had two internships with them. Chances are in five years, I’ll probably be in Dallas, higher up the rank, still at Texas Instruments.” 
What’s your pet peeve? “When people take a very long time to do something very basic. Sometimes I don’t have patience with people, but it’s one thing when someone is putting forth an effort that they aren’t naturally good at. I don’t mind helping out with that, but I mean something very basic like taking forever at the cash register grocery shopping… It’s just something I’d like to expedite the process.” 
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? “There’s so many things I’d change. I’m very critical about myself, so I don’t always have pride in accomplishment. Sometimes when I’m working towards something, it’s basically a never-ending goal because you can’t really perfect anything.” 
What’s your idea of a perfect date? “It would be ideal to fly out to France and eat well-cooked food and then perhaps have a bottle of very nice champagne afterwards, but I’m not exactly high maintenance, so a perfect date could even be something as simple as making dinner for my girlfriend — a meal that goes well in all aspects and then just whatever happens from there whether that be watching a movie or anything like that.” 
What qualities do you look for in a girl? “She has to be independent, strong, self-improving. Athletic always helps — I’m athletic — and funny.” 
What do you find unattractive in women? “When [girls who] are in a relationship become less of their own person. Someone who is really dependent. Someone who complains a lot, and someone who doesn’t try to fix what is wrong. People who aren’t proactive” 
What advice would you give girls about guys? “It’s a big cliché, but I would say: Be your own person. Don’t try and be what the guy wants you to be. If they don’t like you for who you are, then it’s not worth it.” 
What do you think sets you apart from other campus cuties? “I don’t know who the other Campus Cuties are, but I guess not a lot of guys like to cook, and I’ve gone so far as to take cooking class. I bet you that probably sets me apart.” 
What was your reaction to being asked to be campus cutie? “I was flattered. I’ve never been asked to do something like this before, so I didn’t know what to think… But after getting the okay from my girlfriend, I figured to go with it — not to say that I need her permission to do everything. But you know, I was at a loss for words, and she said just go for it.”

• campus cutie
• engineers