To understand why and how
Palmer Trinity started a high
school sailing team, you have to
go back to a few years—back to
1984 when MICHEL E B A K ER ' 8 9
and BR EN T B A K ER ' 9 1 started
attending Palmer Preparatory
school. That's when their parents,
Don and Rita Baker, became
involved with the Palmer School
Booster program. Don and Rita
volunteered, donated, and made
many other contributions to
enhance the Palmer community.
They were honored with a lifetime
membership to the Palmer School
Booster Club and their name is
still listed on the board featured in
the Palmer Trinity Hall of Fame.
Fast forward a few decades, and Michele, along with her husband Scott Benesch, are
thrilled to watch their children, BR AY DEN BENE S CH ' 2 4, and K Y L A BENE S CH ' 2 7 enjoy and
thrive on the same grounds, albeit triple in size, she once did. When Rita passed away,
Michele remembered how much her mother loved her time with Palmer's students,
faculty and parents. She also knew her children were passionate and very competitive
about sailing. For this reason, Michele took the inheritance she received upon Rita's
death to offer the school a sailing program.
ENH A NCING PA L MER T R INI T Y ' S AU X IL I A RY PROGR A M
The program aims to enhance students' lives, and expand the school's auxiliary program.
Moreover, it can help seniors be more attractive to prospective colleges. Sailing is a
program in which 35 top colleges and universities have fully funded varsity programs
and 165 colleges and universities have club programs.
So why sailing versus another activity?
"There is no better feeling than being on the water in Biscayne Bay with friends after
school. We work hard and push each other every day, while having a great deal of fun
too," said BR AY DEN BENE S CH ' 2 4.
Sailing is an activity that builds confidence, independence and self-esteem, as well as
fostering strategic thinking, decision making and creative problem solving. When we
asked C A R L O S ROIG ' 2 4 why he loves sailing, he said, "I would recommend sailing to
another athlete because I believe that it builds a team while working on personal skills."
Interested in learning more?
Contact our Enrichment Director, Ernest Robertson at erobertson@palmertrinity.org or
visit palmertrinity.org/athletics/sailing-enrichment-program.
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