Why 6th-Grade Musician Was Shouted-Out To Nyack-Piermont Patch

NYACK, NY — Star Students are found in classrooms, on concert and theater stages and at debate lecterns, and out in the community doing good things to make life better for all of us.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize Star Students, and we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding kids to their neighbors.

This submission comes from Suzanne who nominated Benjamin, a sixth-grader who is a musician and composer in Rockland County. One of his compositions, written while he was still an elementary-school student, was a tribute to students and families in Uvalde, Texas after the school massacre there.

Star local student’s name

Benjamin

Star local student’s home state

New York

How do you know the star local student?

Family Friend

Why do you believe the star local student should be recognized?

Benjamin is a top student who devotes himself to helping his peers in and out of class. He is curious, modest, and kind to everyone. He knows how it feels to be excluded and misunderstood, and he goes out of his way to reach out to people who seem lonely. He is also a talented and accomplished musician and composer who frequently writes music with socially and environmentally conscientious themes. He is planning to perform his composition, "Vulnerable," with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra. The song was written a year ago as a tribute to students and families in Uvalde, Texas. He was still an elementary school student when he wrote it, and he intended the song to be an expression of the grief and fear that many elementary students — including himself — felt at the time.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star local student?

He works hard and doesn't ever ask for any recognition. Learning and improving as a student and musician are the rewards for him. But, I think it would be a nice surprise for him to hear that people do sometimes take notice of all his hard work.

Congratulations on your achievements, and all of our best wishes to you in the future, Benjamin!

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Know an outstanding student?

Nominate them here.