Editor’s Note: This article was also published in the Benet Herald 2025 Graduation Edition.
Benet Redwings are leaders. From freshman year on, we are taught not only as students, but also as players, musicians, club members, and friends. We are taught not only how to learn, study, and test-take, but also how to be a good friend, a good teammate, a good son or daughter, a good Catholic, and so on. In this four-year process, we grow exponentially, and the end result is a proud (and maybe a bit tired) senior who is off to great things. Now, it’s the Class of 2025’s turn to move on to bigger and better things as new and improved leaders themselves. So, as we celebrate the Senior class, it is with great pride that we recount and celebrate the leaders from the class of 2025. Their commitment to Benet Academy through various clubs and activities is what makes our school such a special place.
On the Basketball Court, our seniors helped lead us to a history-making state win. On the Tennis Court, the girls won team state, a great finish to Coach Hand’s career! Girls’ Volleyball finished second in state! The Hockey team also earned second in state with the help of a large senior roster. Within each team, senior leaders have stepped up to mentor and inspire those younger, and the result has been an amazing success for Benet Athletics.
L.I.F.T., our campus ministry organization, has been very busy this year too! Under the leadership of the various Board Leaders, specifically Quinn Knox and Madeleine Kirchgessner, there were plenty of opportunities for students to participate and grow in faith, including through Morning Mass, Bible Cafes, Confessions, Adorations, the Lenses and Catalyst retreats, and various fundraising events such as creating Christmas Drive gift boxes for local children, and a gift drop off and gift organization for Our Lady of the Angels in Chicago. They are celebrating their success this year with a Eucharistic Procession success year where they can wrap up the year by symbolically and literally walking with Jesus by processing his Holy Body. Altogether, Knox and Kirchgessner have made huge additions and created a great impact in the L.I.F.T. office.
In the National Honor Society (NHS), the leadership of President Sienna Bloom, Vice President Clare Cabay, Parliamentarian Ellie Kane, Secretary Lily McKenna, and Treasurer Nick Zoberis has helped guide the Benet Academy chapter through significant changes. The location and focus of meetings have changed: now the meetings take place in the auditorium and discuss the different elements of being a great NHS member represented by the four pillars. Overall, the change has led to more insightful and productive meetings. Also, the bake sale was brought back at a larger scale and NHS was added as an organization in MyBenet to help students navigate service opportunities more easily. McKenna stated that “NHS is an amazing club to serve those around us.” As NHS is the largest service club at Benet, the great leadership has been critical to the success and functionality of Benet as a whole in organizing and overseeing service opportunities.
Student Government has also had a great year with the help of President Jeffrey Lange, Vice President Hannah Baer, and the rest of the committee heads. They helped organize numerous events and email regularly about important student information. Specifically, Baer and Lange have helped inform students about Prom information, athletic events, and regularly orchestrate meetings to keep fellow members up to date. They have helped coordinate and run Mr. Redwing, Penny Wars, and various other events, and regularly provide information for service events. Overall, these leaders have greatly contributed to Student Government through their hard work and huge dedication and commitment!
The Benet Class of 2025 has surely made an impact, and us Redwings are so, so excited for them as they enter a new chapter of their lives!
