Anna Benfield


Name: Anna Benfield
Position: Page Editor
Graduation Year: 2004
Anna Benfield is a CAP swimmer, field hockey and lacrosse goalie and diversity workshop leader. She loves biking, sailing, collages, the zoo and her little brother.


Stories (18)


New milk machines to open

By Anna Benfield | Jan. 2, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Milk and ice cream will be available in new vending machines starting the first week back from winter break, according to Business Manager Anne Alban.

Parental pressure puts weight on Blazers

By Anna Benfield | Dec. 26, 2003, midnight | In Print »

In a week-long battle last spring, Rachel tried to reason with her parents, but every day the conflict escalated to screaming and crying. After anonymous letters from pleading friends, her father finally caved in. She would be allowed to participate in a Blair extracurricular activity under the condition that she maintained at least a 3.75 unweighted GPA.

In America: an American dream

By Anna Benfield | Dec. 19, 2003, midnight | In Print »

An immigrant family moves to a cruddy upstairs apartment in a Manhattan building filled with drug addicts and prostitutes. But shockingly they are able to overcome adversity, poverty and family tragedy to find happiness and grow together as a family. This oversimplified plot summary might leave you thinking that the film you are about to read about will mark number 233 on your list of 2nd rate feel-good movies, but don't judge it too quickly. Despite the colorful and glossy backdrop, the Irish family becomes so real I feel pained at having to admit that they are only characters in a movie. The creative cinematography and unforgettable personalities in In America make it stand out from the crowd of movies vying for a place in your heart this holiday season.

Peer mediation: Let's talk about it

By Anna Benfield | Dec. 18, 2003, midnight | In Print »

From early on, parents and authority figures tell children to listen. But as we grow up, no one ever teaches us this essential interpersonal skill. The result: generations of Americans who are waiting for their turn to speak. Even an untrained eye can see that this is becoming an increasingly important problem in Blair halls and classrooms. A peer mediation program is desperately needed at Blair, and NSL teacher Ken Smith has taken the initiative to get one up and running. As students, teachers and administrators, we all need to do our part to make his plan a working reality.

Suspension rate doubles

By Anna Benfield | Dec. 18, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Leadership conference held

By Anna Benfield | Dec. 12, 2003, midnight | In Print »

The Student Government Association (SGA), with administrative support, held a leadership conference with approximately 100 athletic captains and club leaders during fourth period on Friday.

Blair senior profiled in Washington Post

By Anna Benfield | Dec. 1, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Senior Vital Akimana was profiled on the front page of the Washington Post's Metro Section on Sunday, Nov 30.

Immersed in another universe

By Anna Benfield | Oct. 2, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Die-hard sports fans paint their stomachs blue.  Groupies scream their lungs out and flash the camera at rock concerts.  On the other hand, fan fiction enthusiasts, another brand of obsessed fanatics, slip past unnoticed by the public eye.

Art program helps Blazers "Make Connections"

By Anna Benfield | June 1, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Three Blair students joined twelve other teens from the D.C. and MD area in "Making Connections,” a week long bookmaking program sponsored by Pyramid Atlantic that culminated in a reception at Mayorga Coffee Factory.

Girls' lacrosse pounds Panthers

By Anna Benfield, Luke Bostian | April 30, 2003, midnight | In Print »

APR 30, BLAZER STADIUM--The Blazers utilized strong offensive plays and mid-field defense to beat the Paint Branch High School Panthers today, 19-1.

Expressin' aggression

By Anna Benfield | April 10, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Junior Daniel Jaeggi looks into his opponent's eyes as the two circle one another. Hands cocked next to his head, he waits for the slightest twitch to betray an incoming attack. Finally, he makes his move, landing a punch to his competitor's head.

City at Peace

By Anna Benfield | March 15, 2003, midnight | In Print »

"Should I express myself? Should I be myself or should I find out what they want and try to be somebody else?"

Climb every mountain

By Anna Benfield | Feb. 13, 2003, midnight | In Print »

On a quest for a peculiar pet

By Anna Benfield | Jan. 15, 2003, midnight | In Print »

I call out his name and Ralph bounds toward me, the ground trembling under his hulking mass. "Good boy!” I say affectionately, scratching behind his big floppy ears. I begin to run, and he chases me off into the verdant fields of my imagination.

Rwandan genocide through a child's eyes

By Anna Benfield | Nov. 8, 2002, midnight | In Print »

From their house across the road, he watched the bus explode and burn in front of the Hutu military base. The explosions were no longer on the other side of the mountain but all around, trapping his family inside the house. They waited for four days, huddled in the corridor with mattresses along the windows to absorb stray bullets.

Moliere's comedy in town

By Anna Benfield, Josh Scannell | Oct. 10, 2002, midnight | In Print »

Moliere's classic Misanthrope, a comedic satire of French seventeenth century high society now being performed at Arena Stage, provided an entertaining night of laughter and social commentary. Despite being too heavy on melodrama, Moliere manages to make profound observations of human nature.

Goalies: beyond just stopping the shots

By Anna Benfield | Oct. 4, 2002, midnight | In Print »

Sophomore Chris Wilhelm watches the shooter's eyes for clues. With the score tied at zero after sudden-death overtime, the teams have resorted to penalty shots to determine the Labor Day soccer tournament finalist. He waits, poised on the goal line like a coiled spring, the pressure on him to make the game-winning save. With a kick, the ball soars to the left corner of the goal, and Wilhelm explodes to intercept the shot.

A star-spangled Anthem

By Anna Benfield, Lily Hamburger | Sept. 11, 2002, midnight | In Print »

If you're expecting an average five-act show, you won't get one at Arena Stage this fall. Arena is showing Anthems: Culture Clash in the District, an eccentric and artistic celebration of life in Washington, D.C.