Salem Star Athlete Earns One Of 5 NE Triple-Impact Scholarships

SALEM, MA — A Bishop Fenwick senior from Salem is in some select company after earning one of five scholarships across New England for her leadership on and off the track.

The Positive Coaching Alliance chose Benoit as one of five recipients out of 15 finalists for the $1,000 award. She was honored at a virtual ceremony on Nov. 19.

"PCA is proud to award Breanna a Triple-Impact Competitor scholarship," PCA Regional Director Beth O'Neill-Maloney. "She is committed to achieving her goals and to making a positive impact on her teammates and her community. Breanna's athletic achievements are impressive, but she has earned this scholarship because of who she is as a person, teammate and a leaders."

Benoit was named a finalist based her story of accomplishing a year-long goal of becoming a Most Valuable Player at a meet.

Benoit, who has also competed in volleyball, dance and competitive cheer, said she credits playing sports with teaching her that determination. She said she set the goal in conjunction with Fenwick coach Jocelyn Almy-Testa.

"I put my heart and soul into achieving my goals, for myself and for my track team," Benoit said. "Each day I attack something different to get better, and I pump my teammates up. The sky is the limit."

Recently retired U.S. women's hockey legend Meghan Duggan, of Danvers, was one of the featured speakers at the remote event, along with Olympic gold medalist swimmer Katie Ladecky, Olympic women's wrestling gold medalist Helen Maroulis, professional volleyball player Kathryn Plummer, Olympic track athlete Colleen Quigley, professional lacrosse player and Premier Lacrosse League founder Paul Rabil, Olympic volleyball player Erik Shoji and professional squash player Amanda Sobhy.

On Dec. 17, Benoit and the other four New England winners will be recognized nationally with a chance to share their stories as part of "The Jersey Series," a virtual series that will celebrate longtime Harvard coach Kathy Delaney-Smith and her contribution to the game.

Tickets can be found here.

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