Senior honored for character, service

SARAH COLSON OBERLIN HIGH SCHOOL

Each month the Oberlin Rotary Club honors select students as “Senior of the Month.” These young people are recognized for their good character and positive attitude. They have contributed their time and energy to helping the school and community and are excellent role models. The Oberlin Rotary Club will donate $25.00 to a charity or project of the student’s choosing in their name. The Oberlin High School senior honored for the month of January is Iliana Bennett.

Bennett has been a member of the OHS Marching Band throughout high school, working her way up from assistant drum captain to drum captain in her senior year. She has also been a four year member of the OHS Queers and Allies Club.

In all her extracurricular activities, she says, she has chosen activities that provide honest, open, and secure places where students can truly be themselves and work toward personal and group goals.

Bennett also participated in Academic Challenge and Ohio Model United Nations.

This past year at Model UN her group received an award for their representation of Belgium. She has just been elected captain of the OHS tennis team. Bennett has also been a member of the OHS Orchestra for four years and plays violin. This past October she was part of the OHS String Quartet for the national tour of Beatles vs. Stones: A Musical Showdown. She says it was exciting to be part of a professional music production, including being interviewed on the local Fox 8 TV station. Being part of the Quartet at this level required tremendous commitment and long hours rehearsing with Ms. Audrey John Melzer, OHS Orchestra Director.

During her sophomore and junior years, Bennett volunteered at Kim’s Grocery as part of her community service hours for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. She has also provided community service through the many Marching Band and Orchestra concerts staged throughout the community.

Bennett is currently employed at the Riverview Pointe Care Center in Olmsted Falls. In her role as dietary aide, she makes sure residents eat well and on a set schedule. Her job requires patience and efficiency to make sure residents receive the correct meal with any specified modifications. She says she always strives to make residents feel comfortable and safe.

Bennett has been accepted to Bowling Green State and Dayton Universities, and has received a University Freshman Academic Scholarship from BGSU. She is still waiting to hear from several schools, including Oberlin College and Ohio State University. Her future career plans include music education and music therapy.