Weekly Roundup
July 30, 2026
Here is a look at how our students are embracing active citizenship to lift up their communities this week. This week features Benjamin Project stories of a California student spreading positivity to classmates with uplifting handmade keychains, a Minnesota student launching a candy business to support individuals experiencing homelessness, and a Washington student assembling essential hygiene and cleaning kits for local refugees. Rounding out the week is a thoughtful travel scholarship reflection from a Colorado student sharing their unforgettable history and learning experiences in Washington, D.C.
Anevay - California
I used the money I received to make positive keychains to uplift peoples day! We have all had those days at school when nothing is going our way, and I believe it's important to make every kid feel seen even on those bad days. We passed them out during state testing. Some of them we secretly clipped onto students' backpacks and others we handed out. It was such an awesome experience seeing kids that you may not know see the keychain and get excited. It just really reminds us that the small acts of kindness can make the biggest difference to others!
Grace - Minnesota
I used the money to start my own candy business! I am donating all of my profits to Church on the Street, a local charity that helps people facing homelessness and spreads faith. I love doing this because I get to use my skills to help lots of people. I plan to continue expanding my business in the years to come!
Sadie - Washington
With the money from the Benjamin Project, I raised money in my community totaling almost $300 dollars. I then shopped for essential cleaning and hygiene products for the refugees supported by Spokane World Relief. Once I compiled the welcome kits according to World Relief's online lists, I dropped them off at their warehouse where they were later distributed to refugees in need of living in Spokane. I chose to use the money for this because I've seen how it can affect my friends and peers who are new to Spokane. I am so glad I got to participate in this because there are so many people around us who need extra help and if we can provide that I see no reason not to.
Henry - Colorado
First off, I learned about Arlington Cemetery, which I was not aware of. It was the most interesting cemetery I have been to because the uniformity of the headstones (400,000!) is mesmerizing. I also learned this is where many members of the Kennedy family are buried. I enjoyed seeing the changing of the guard here. I liked the ceremony of the event.
My favorite parts of the trip were the Capitol and Holocaust Museum. The Capitol was interesting because of the architecture. I liked how European-looking it was. The Holocaust Museum was interesting because World War II is one of my favorite history topics to learn about. The video about how Hitler came to power was more objective and educational than I was expecting. The videos of the interviews with survivors of Auschwitz made that point in history more personal.
One day we went to a Chili Restaurant that had been an integral meeting place during the civil rights unrest. The owner of the restaurant, a 93-year-old woman, had met Martin Luther King Jr. during that time. She talked to me a little bit when we were there and showed me the pictures of her on the wall with Obama, Kevin Hart and Chris Rock (and told me I could put chili on the hot dog).
Aside from the historic and governmental things I learned, I enjoyed the super luxurious bus we traveled in, eating at the food courts and restaurants with my friends, and sharing a hotel room with them (although we didn't have that much time in the room because our schedule was so packed). We watched the Avs games, though unfortunately that was when they lost the playoff series.