The Mycenaean

Fiona Benear, left, and Jaidee Hernandez, right, perform a tilt in the dance ensemble class. The class is working to choreograph their holiday dance for their upcoming seasonal dance performance (photo courtesy of Shir Inbari).

Fiona Benear is a current senior at Leesville Road High School and an active part of the LRHS community. 

Born in Raleigh, North Carolina Fiona has attended Leesville for a majority of her education,  previously attending Leesville Elementary School and Leesville Middle School before coming to Leesville high school. 

Fiona is always friendly and eager to meet new people and learn new things. “I love to read in my free time and hang out with my friends,” said Bennear.

Academics

As a student, Fiona works hard, taking many honors and Advanced Placement classes. Of many classes Fiona has taken throughout her time in high school, the class most impactful to her is her Dance Ensemble Class. 

“Right now, I am taking AP Literature and Composition, Dance Ensemble, Economics and Personal Finance Honors, and AP Stat. Dance is my favorite class. I have been on Leesville’s dance team since freshman year, and I have always loved to dance because it is such a fun and caring environment and I love all the girls in that class,” said Bennear.

As a 4-year dance team member and senior captain, Fiona is a vital piece of the LRHS dance team. 

“Fiona is an amazing team member… She is a great dancer and is very kind and cooperative with everyone on the team. She comes up with really great choreography and always goes above and beyond to make sure everyone on the team feels welcomed and included,” said Abigail Gregory, senior.

Apart from her involvement in dance, Fiona challenges herself to take rigorous classes and is at the top of her class. Bennear served as a Junior Marshall for the 2024 graduating class and is the President of Math National Honors Society. As president, Bennear works hard to create engaging meetings and provide students with opportunities to explore math concepts in depth as well as give back to the LRHS community through weekly math tutoring opportunities.

Outside of the classroom

Fiona Bennear is involved in many extracurricular activities including sports, volunteering and religious commitments. 

“I am in the pre-professional program at the School of Carolina Ballet, I previously served as a student ambassador for Note in the Pocket, and I am the Social Action Vice President for the North American Federation of Temple Youth’s Mid-Atlantic Region NFTY-MAR,” said Bennear.

Not only is Bennear committed to her academics and school community, but she also serves as a leader in her local Jewish community as the Social Action Vice President of NFTY-MAR, a regional reform Jewish youth group for Jewish teenagers spanning from North Carolina to Maryland. 

“Fiona has always been involved in the Jewish community… she was the Social Action Vice President of Temple Beth Or before becoming the Social Action Vice President of NFTY-MAR. Fiona is a great leader and is always eager to make a difference, hosting charity events like voter registration phone banks as well as working with Note in the Pocket to donate clothes to people in need,” said Tillie Noyes, NFTY-MAR member and Leesville senior.

As an active member of the community and positive impact on her peers, Fiona Bennear is an inspiration to all those around her both in academics and her pursuits outside of the classroom.