Student-Athletes Commit To Top Tier Colleges
Benjamin’s student-athlete collegiate commitment list for the 2017-2018 year reflects a broad range of sports and a deep pool of talent. As of August, 19 seniors have committed to the college of their choice where they will continue their athletic and academic pursuits. Three of those talented seniors spoke about their time at Benjamin, what it means to be a student athlete and how they ascended to where they are now.
Kylie Kempe
Kylie Kempe has been playing lacrosse since fourth grade. Kempe will head to Johns Hopkins University next fall where she will continue to pursue her passion.
“I've learned a lot about perseverance through playing. No matter the score you can't just stop playing you, you have to finish it and I think that is something that will definitely translate into life especially when I get into the real world,” Kempe says
She advises other student-athletes not to rush the recruiting process. “As long as you don’t give up, you’re going to find a school that will be a perfect home for you. You just have to be persistent.”
Of all her accomplishments, Kempe says she’s most proud of being an voted an All American.
“Benjamin is truly one of a kind in terms of the support and resources student athletes get. I think it is a very special thing for teachers to come to athletes’ games and support them on the field as well as in the classroom. From the classroom to the field I have always felt supported by this school and that is something that I will always be grateful for.”
Sabrina Fonda
Sabrina Fonda became a Benjamin student her sophomore year of high school, but she has been playing golf since she was eight years old.
“Over the years, golf has instilled so many values in me such as honesty, integrity, respect, patience and persistence. Mostly, it has taught me to be independent and to overcome adversity. Besides the values that I have learned through golf, it has taught me so many life skills in the sense that with every shot, you have to factor in so many aspects such as wind, yardage, slope etc. that it teaches you how to make decisions based on what is in front of you with a risk/reward factor,” Fonda says of her golf career.
Fonda will continue her career at Winthrop University, a division 1 golf school. She says it was her number one choice for college and something she has been working hard towards for years.
“Since transferring to Benjamin in my sophomore year, I have loved the experience of this school. The academic program is very rigorous and I feel well prepared to enter college next year. Also, the golf team gets so much support and I am so thankful to have had Mr. Logsdon as the coach for the girls team. He helped me so much through my transition to the school and has mentally assisted and guided me through my golf career at Benjamin.”
Kristopher Armstrong
Kris Armstrong remembers first learning baseball by watching his father coach the sport.
“My father would give private baseball lessons and I would always tag along. This is where I learned everything needed to be successful.”
Since his eighth grade year at Benjamin, Kris has played on the varsity baseball team. Next fall will mark his fifth varsity baseball season before he heads to UF where he is committed to play ball.
“ Benjamin has been such a great experience for me. I have been able to do everything that I've wanted to do. I was able to be the lead in a school musical along with being able to sing/perform in the variety show. I was also able to be a part of the baseball team since 8th grade. Benjamin has also gotten me ready for college academically. I am very thankful for everything they have done for me and I will continue to use what I've learned at TBS through life,” Armstrong says.
See the full list of Student-Athlete Collegiate Commitments Below:
Armstrong, Kristofer - University of Florida (Baseball) ‘18
Baldari, Alessandra - TBA in October (Women’s Swimming) ‘18
Byrne, Jenna - Rutgers University (Women’s Lacrosse) ‘19
Fonda, Sabrina - Winthrop University (Women’s Golf) ‘18
Houri, Nina - Bryn Mawr (Women's Lacrosse) '18
Houri, Nina - Bryn Mawr (Women's Lacrosse) '18
Kempe, Kylie - Johns Hopkins University (Women’s Lacrosse) ‘18
Lange, Emma - Dickinson College (Volleyball) ‘18
Lanoce, Paul - Lehigh University (Baseball) ‘18
Lobosco, Michael - United States Naval Academy (Men’s Lacrosse) ‘19
McKenzie, TJ - Vanderbilt University (Baseball) ‘19
Nicklaus, Will - University of North Carolina (Men’s Lacrosse) ‘18
Rose, Carolyn - Hobart and William Smith Colleges - (Women’s Lacrosse) ‘18
Slack, Kierra - University of Missouri (Women’s Soccer) ‘18
Steinhart, Aaron - Stetson University (Baseball) ‘18
Taplett, Nick - Winthrop University (Baseball) ‘18
Thomas, Isaiah - Vanderbilt University (Baseball) ‘18
Travis, Jordan - University of Louisville (Football) ‘18
Turner, Ashley - Ohio State University (Women’s Lacrosse) ‘19
Weisz, Martin - University of Virginia (Football) ‘18
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A premier PK3 - Grade 12 independent, coeducational day school with campuses in North Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. Since 1960, The Benjamin School has provided a challenging college preparatory education to a diverse student body in a structured, nurturing community environment.