Join us for our weekly “Rock Reflections,” a series celebrating Trinity alumni. From 48 states to countries worldwide, our graduates are making an impact, and we'll share their stories on Trinity's website and social media.
This week's profile is about Ben Graven '10
Ben Graven ’10 was a founding member of Trinity’s Culinary Club, survived cancer and has made a living in Real Estate and Hospitality.
Trinity is a family affair for the Gravens. Ben came to Trinity from St. Albert the Great Catholic School. His father, Kenny Graven, graduated in 1977, and his two brothers, Braxton and Bobby, graduated in 2008 and 2013, respectively. One of Ben’s uncles is a Trinity alum as well as five of his cousins. His older brother Braxton unfortunately passed away in 2020.
“I grew up going to Trinity baseball games and heard my dad tell many stories about his high school days,” Ben said. “I also was raised Catholic, and Trinity I just knew was the right path. Plus, I was really interested in the visual arts, and I knew Trinity had a great art department and teachers.”
Ben immediately got involved at Trinity. He played baseball all four years, excelling as a pitcher and first baseman. He was named to the Academic All-State team and Most Valuable Offensive Player his freshman year and All-Tournament team his senior year. Additionally, he was a member of Seton House, the Ping Pong Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, “The Axiom” literary magazine staff and Ski & Snowboard Club. He also received a Shamrock Award for his academic success.
It was the Culinary Club that had the most lasting impact. Ben founded the club with classmates Larry Weeks and Trae Nunn. Larry currently owns and serves as chef for Murray’s Creole Pub in Louisville.
“The Culinary Club opened the creative door for me,” Ben said. “I’d always loved cooking for my family on weeknights. I didn’t realize how passionate I was about cooking until I got involved with the club. French onion soup was the first dish I learned. Larry and I started cooking and experimenting on the weekends and school nights. Now, I cook for my wife. She gets a five-star meal every night. I’m also working on a cookbook that I'm excited about.”
Ben remembers Trinity being a lively place.
“I connected with so many different people,” Ben said. “I enjoyed hanging out in the cafeteria in the morning before school. I would pop into Jeff Becker’s class and talk baseball. Trinity had everything I needed and it got me out of my comfort zone. Trinity kept me motivated and uplifted. It was a comfortable and welcoming environment.”
Two of Ben’s favorite teachers were art teachers Jim Connell ’63 and Carole Baker and baseball coach and Spanish teacher Steven Tompkins ’81.
“Mr. Connell taught me not just art, but also about life,” Ben said. “He inspired me to paint and draw, which I still do for fun. Also, those skills led to learning photography with Ms. Baker.”
“Coach Tompkins was my baseball coach and teacher, and he always pushed me to be the best version of myself,” Ben continued. “I ended up having a lot of success. But he was more than a teacher and coach. He was a spiritual leader for me on retreat, in class and on the baseball field.”
Ben said he discovered his spirituality while on Senior Retreat.
“Retreat woke me up,” he said. “I didn’t realize how spiritual I was. I’d been Catholic and religious my whole life but retreat awakened a part of me I didn’t know existed. I felt like myself while on retreat. It inspired me to be a retreat leader at St. Albert for a few summers, and I still say often, ‘Live the Fourth.’”
After graduating from Trinity in 2010, Ben attended the University of Louisville. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2015. In addition to being a student, he and some friends started the first ever club baseball team at UofL that continues to exist to this day. He also wrote a weekly food column for “The Cardinal” university newspaper.
Ben was unsure what he wanted to do after college, but he had always wanted to live near a beach.
“I grew up going to Destin, Florida, and Hilton Head, South Carolina,” he said. "The beach made me feel a certain way, and I wanted to feel that way all the time.”
Ben looked for jobs anywhere that had a beach. He eventually made his way to Charleston, South Carolina, where he lives today. He didn’t know anyone when he arrived but quickly made lifelong friends and eventually helped open a popular restaurant concept, Sol Southwest Kitchen. However, he returned to Louisville for a stint to manage Molly Malone’s Irish Pub in St. Matthews. He then returned to Charleston after he realized his love for the ocean was calling him back.
For the past eight years, Ben has had a successful real estate career with Daniel Ravenel Real Estate.
“The Ravenel family is one of the oldest families in Charleston, stemming from the very first French Huguenots to move to Charleston back in 1760,” Ben said. “They’re so very important to me, and I’m fortunate to have them in my life not just as employers, but as mentors and very close friends.”
Additionally, Ben is head of human resources for a major logistics company with offices in South Carolina, Illinois and Georgia.
In 2021, Ben was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had surgery four days later. His treatment progressed well until December 2023 when it was discovered the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes and around his stomach and kidneys.
“That was difficult news to take in,” Ben said. “I started chemotherapy in January 2024. I did five rounds, and a total of twenty-five sessions. It was five days in a row for seven hours a day for over four months. I lost my hair, my energy and almost my faith. Chemo practically kills you, but I came out on the other side with a new lease on life. Thank God for my wonderful wife, Brittany. She sat with me all day every day and cared for me through the long journey.”
Ben also received support from his Trinity brothers.
“My friends, including a good deal of my Trinity buddies, were there for me, providing meal trains, prayer groups and even a Gofundme. I had realized how much love and support I truly had in my life,” Ben said. “My friends and family, along with my faith and Trust in God’s plan, is what got me through.” The effects of the chemo resulted in side effects like neuropathy, which damaged the nerves in his fingers and toes. He was undeterred.
“In a way, cancer was one of the better things that ever happened to me,” Ben said. “It gave me purpose and showed me that God gives the hardest battles to his toughest soldiers. I felt a calling to use God’s wisdom and strength from this journey to help others. I live with that purpose and intention every day.”
Ben also suffers from tinnitus, the perception of noise, such as ringing, buzzing or roaring, in the ears without an external source. Ben administers a Facebook support group for tinnitus sufferers across the country.
“It’s been very life-giving sharing what I’ve learned,” Ben said. “I’ve learned to cope and live with it and not make it part of me. I ask myself, ‘How can I help people?’
To help people suffering from illness or life’s tribulations, Ben joined CanCare as a mentor, an organization that pairs individuals facing cancer and survivorship challenges with those who have been through similar experiences.
“People need to know they’re cared for and not alone,” Ben said.
Part of Ben’s commitment to caring started at Trinity.
“What I learned and experienced at Trinity connected me spiritually and empowered me through the years,” he said. “Sometimes you lose faith when life gets hard. I didn’t know what to think or believe while I was having chemo. I started going to church and praying again. That strength to press forward and live by God’s example started at Trinity.”
Ben and his wife, Brittany, a Connecticut native, have been happily married for five years and are now trying to start a family. They have a goldendoodle named Remy and are very active members in the Charleston community.
Share an alumni story!
Do you know a Trinity alumnus with a compelling story? Please reach out to Travis Wagoner '90, Alumni Relations & Communications Director, at 502-736-2122 or wagoner@trinityrocks.com.
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