Meet Benjamin Blumrick

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By Joan Frances –

Fort Bend ISD has 11 top rated high schools. With so much to offer students in every aspect of education, sports and fine arts, it is no wonder their graduating classes are so ready for advancement. Austin High School is home to senior Benjamin Blumrick, whose high school life is impressive.

As a freshman, Benjamin took an interest in theater and has devoted his time to understanding this art throughout his high school career. He was an understudy for the fall play and worked with the technical crew in the musical The Fantasticks. The University Interscholastic League (UIL) one act play is a 40 minute production that high schools from all over the area participate in to compete for advancement to district, area and region, then to state.

Benjamin was an actor in The Imaginary Invalid, and the cast ranked alternate, advancing at region. As a sophomore, Benjamin was an understudy for the fall show and technical crew for the musical Annie Get Your Gun. He was a narrator in a children’s show and a news reporter for the UIL one act performance The Manchurian Candidate. They advanced to districts. As a junior, Benjamin played Mr. Rogers in the play And Then There Were None and Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz in The Wizard of Oz musical. In the UIL one act play The Trojan Women, he was a Spartan guard, and the cast once again advanced to district.

When asked why he enjoys the theater so much, Benjamin replied, “Acting allows me to escape reality and enter into a world of my own where I can explore different personas and bring my creativity to life.” Benjamin’s favorite instructor is Mr. Cummons, his theater teacher. Benjamin said, “He has helped me learn life lessons, to grow as an artist and to become a more confident person.” Mr. Cummons has taught him all aspects of theater: technical, directing, acting and even play writing.

Benjamin is a leader. As a junior, he was secretary for the International Thespian Society, in charge of distribution of points for the troupe, as well as maintaining and updating records. He also kept track of members who were expected to receive a letter jacket in theater. He is troupe president this year, overseeing all of the activities and productions. Benjamin is instrumental in supporting and encouraging the thespians by organizing weekly meetings and relaying information from the directors to the troupe members.

When asked what value he lives by, Benjamin said, “‘What we think, we become.’ This quote by Buddha has inspired me to always think and do my very best. Both in theatre and in the real world, we use our mentality to fuel our ambition to succeed.”

This year, Benjamin joined Peer Assistance and Leadership (PAL) with a goal to help make a difference within the school and community. He is a mentor at the elementary school and is involved in hosting fundraisers for various charities. This group helps orient the freshman and welcome new students by walking them through the school and introducing them to the teachers other students. Benjamin said, “Being a PAL has already been such an amazing experience. I’ve learned a lot about being a leader and how to positively affect my peers.”

Benjamin is considering attending college at either Baylor University, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Colorado or Texas State University. His plan is to major in either pre-med or biology, then to further his career education in medical school with a concentration on the study of endocrinology and diabetes. Congratulations on your ambition and talent Benjamin, and good luck on your future endeavors.