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Benson Polytechnic High School Newspaper

The Benson Orbit

The Benson Orbit

Benson Polytechnic High School Newspaper

The Benson Orbit

Culture

Outdoor School Student Leaders Share Their Experiences

Outdoor School Student Leaders Share Their Experiences

Student leaders love for Outdoor School runs deeper than just teaching, their love comes from something more personal. The student leaders of Benson share where their passion comes from and the reasons they continue to return.
Aspen Trask Jun 2, 2026

All across Oregon, 6th graders are given the opportunity to attend Outdoor School, a unique hands-on learning experience about the world around them. It’s a four-day overnight camp where students spend...

KBPS Alum Rick Kinoshita Embraces his Japanese American Identity After Facing Racism in Industry

KBPS Alum Rick Kinoshita Embraces his Japanese American Identity After Facing Racism in Industry

Rick Kinoshita, a Benson Alum and current KBPS operations manager, recounts his experiences with racism in the radio industry, being forced to go by the white-sounding name Rick Taylor in the 80s. He’s learning to embrace his identity as a Japanese American after returning to KBPS.
Zenith Yoshihara May 30, 2026

“Embracing my identity as a Japanese American, I’ve always been proud within, I just didn’t feel like I could be proud outside,” said Rick Kinoshita, an alumnus of Benson Polytechnic High School...

Photo provided by Beth Conyers/Portland Public Schools

Where Are Benson’s Recent Alumni Now?

What are the highlights of the alums' high-school careers, and what can current students expect from life after Benson?
Zayne Dahlquist May 14, 2026

What might life look like for Benson students after graduation? In pursuit of an answer to this important question, the Orbit spoke with four recent Benson alums from across academies to find out what...

Everything Happening at Benson’s 2026 Tech Show

Everything Happening at Benson’s 2026 Tech Show

Find out what Benson’s majors, clubs, and other classes have to offer. It's Benson's time to show off at the 103rd Tech Show, happening April 16th and 17th from 6-9 p.m.
Gerald Hively Apr 13, 2026

Tech show. It’s Benson’s biggest nights of the year, the “one time that is really, truly, genuinely worth it coming and checking out everything,” according to Radio teacher Jacob Patterson.  But...

Marvin Kolbow accepts his Audience Choice Award.

Benson’s Got Talent! Sees Bright Future After Last Year’s Mess

17 different acts performed at this year’s Benson talent show, introducing awards and prizes for the first time.
Vivian Scofield Apr 9, 2026

Following last year’s backstage mess, Benson’s Got Talent! returned to Benson’s auditorium on March 6th with smashing success, with 17 acts performing to draw in all manner of students and adults...

Mr. Booker: From Alumni, to Electrician, to Teacher

Mr. Booker: From Alumni, to Electrician, to Teacher

As both an alumni and a teacher, Booker uses his experiences to ensure that students have a bright future.
Peter Ruf Mar 20, 2026

Ricky Booker can be described as many things: A Benson alumnus, an electrician, a chess coach, and an educator. He teaches Electric for freshmen, sophomores, and seniors, as well as a residential wiring...

KBPS Chief of Music Discusses his Goals and Tasks for the Year

KBPS Chief of Music Discusses his Goals and Tasks for the Year

The chief of music shares his desire to update the playlist of the radio, and lay groundwork for future chiefs of music.
Zayd Faruqui Feb 11, 2026

Music is an important part of KBPS radio, and the Chief of Music helps facilitate it. Nick Oates, the current chief of music, states, “As chief of music, I’m responsible for all of the music we put...

How Do Benson Students Get to School?

Students travel from all corners of Portland to go to school at Benson, even if that means waking up early.
Elizabeth Larrison and Tobinn Carlson Feb 2, 2026

Students travel from all corners of Portland and beyond to go to school at Benson. Many students take public transportation to get here, even if that means waking up early, braving the weather, or facing...

Making History: Meet the 2026 Benson Blueprint Team

Making History: Meet the 2026 Benson Blueprint Team

The Yearbook staff all took on the challenge for different reasons, but they have the same goal: capture the school year’s memories in the best way possible.
Nick Oates Dec 17, 2025

This year’s Yearbook staff — or, as their adviser, Greg Huntington tries to call them, “Yerds” — took on the challenge of the class for a lot of different reasons. Some just needed another class...

Latinx Club Educates Students on Their Rights, and Gives a Space to Share Culture

The president & vice president of the club share how the Latinx club educates students on their rights surrounding ICE, and gives a space for students to share their culture.
Aspen Trask Dec 5, 2025

Benson’s Latinx Club is creating a safe and welcoming environment for all students to embrace and learn about Latinx culture. “Being in Latinx Club helps me be around my culture. We get to learn more...

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