R-Jeneration: Nationally recognized Green Valley High student remains active in class, clubs

It all began in middle school: a fresh start, a new beginning and a need to make new friends.

Benjamin Welch, now a senior at Green Valley High School, had just moved to town and sought a way to make friends. First option: Varsity Quiz. Second option: BETA club. He decided to join both in high school.

"I had done (BETA club) at middle school, and I enjoyed the service and leadership aspect of it," Welch said. "I think I was in the sixth or seventh grade when I first joined. It was my very first way of making friends."

At the time it was just a way to socialize, but now Welch has made the club a higher priority, becoming the president of it in his junior year.

"We help in the community and try to find service projects to help out with in BETA club," Welch said.

Welch also is a member of the Varsity Quiz team at Green Valley.

"Being able to play matches and play as a team is a really great aspect of Varsity Quiz for me," Welch said. "My greatest moment about Varsity Quiz has been working together on the team."

Haley Peterson, a senior at Green Valley and a fellow member of the Varsity Quiz team, said she thinks that Welch is good at what he does.

"He's actually really good," Peterson said. "He's really good at the religious questions, but not just those, he can answer some of the other ones like music, too."

Illena Donley, Welch's former teacher, agrees with Peterson that Welch seems to know his facts.

"He's in Varsity Quiz, and he's always knowledgeable and that's because of that club," Donley said.

Peterson thinks that not only is Welch knowledgeable about his information, but he's very subtle about it as well.

"Some people get wound up," Peterson said. "But he's nice and very easygoing."

Welch also is a National Merit Finalist, having scored well on the PSAT, usually given out in the sophomore or junior year. Out of 1,600 students eligible for the award, Welch scored a finalist spot over the summer.

"I found out right before Christmas break because my mom called and I had been doing research to see which score I needed," Welch said. "The actual notice came during summer break though and I was very excited."

Welch wasn't alone in his excitement.

"I was really excited and my parents were also really excited for me, too," Welch said. "They were always supportive and they sent me through prep classes. They were really happy when those worked out."

Peterson agrees that receiving the award was a high accomplishment for Welch.

"I'm impressed, but I knew Ben could do it," Peterson said. "He is a genius."

Along with being a member of Varsity Quiz, BETA club and being a National Merit Finalist, Welch also is interested in the theater department at the school.

He is a member of the Advance Study Theatre class, in which he shares the stage with fellow actors and actresses.

"I love being with people that are actually going to pursue it because I see them and try to mimic what they do," Welch said.

Musical theater and singing always have been passions for Welch.

As a student, Welch puts himself in the hardest classes and is part of the International Baccalaureate program at Green Valley.

"He is really smart," Peterson said. "I had him in World History and Language and Composition. ... He always participates in class."

Donley agrees that Welch is an active student in class.

"He is a kid who always paid attention to detail and he was very neat," Donley said. "He was always perfect as far as to make sure he was legible, on time and complete."

Donley taught Spanish IV IB to him, in which he was required to speak in Spanish during the entire year.

"Being Spanish, he always felt comfortable to talk to me," Donley said. "He's very regimented as far as paying attention to details, and he always got the lesson and he understood it. He always made an effort to talk."

Along with being a good speaker, Donley said that Welch stood out from other kids because he would never complain about doing the work.

"He is such a good-natured young man, always positive and happy," Donley said. "He's always ready to go, happy to do the work."

Though Welch was studious, something that both Peterson and Donley will always remember about him is his smile.

"He has got that smile painted on his face," Donley said. "He was a good kid and I miss having him in my class."