As a CCHS senior, Gabriela is primarily focusing on college applications with plans to pursue a double degree in violin performance and mathematics. This semester she is taking Honors English IV, AP Physics II, Government, AP Spanish IV, AP Chemistry II, and Calculus III at Southern Illinois University and is looking forward to what remains of her last year of high school. In October, she took on the massive task of co-creating the first annual Future Business Leaders of America Fall Carnival at CCHS, involving several local businesses. The event served as a fundraiser for Future Business Leaders of America, and for many of the other clubs that participated.
Like many other GFFers, Gabriela competes with the Math Team, and has won several individual awards. She was selected by the CCHS faculty for the Good Citizen Award, sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution, and has applied for an award associated with this organization at the state level.
She continues to play in the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and will have performed on 4 different occasions with this ensemble by the end of the semester, and enjoys working with her string quartet, which maintains an active concert schedule. Another recognition of her talent was being selected as Concertmaster for the Illinois Music Educator’s Association Festival which included excerpts from the Carmen Suites.
Next semester, Gabriela plans to participate in several academic competitions as part of the Science Team, Physics Team, and WYSE. This year, she also serves as President of Student Council and National Honor Society.
Gabriela says, “I have a lot of different interests including: music, math, chemistry, physics, linguistics, international studies, and political science. I hope to pursue a variety of interests and continue to expand my education.”
In April 2019, Gabriela Benyas and 2 of her CCHS teammates, Kylee Korando, and Rose Kippenbrock won 7th place at the National History Day Competition held in Washington, D.C. Their project was titled “Barbed Wire: A Twisted Legacy.” They did all the research, painted the sets, created the costumes, and wrote and performed a 10-minute skit. The project required submission of a process paper and a bibliography, and the effort spanned the entire school year.
Many congratulations to the entire team on your stunning 7th place finish. We are very, very proud of you all.
