Olympic gold medalist Rai Benjamin visits schools and is honored in citywide ceremonies

Crowds of cheering students and fans lined the streets and schools of Mount Vernon on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, as the city and school district celebrated Rai Benjamin. The three-time Olympic gold medalist and native of the city was honored with a motorcade, Mount Vernon High School Hall of Fame dedication and ceremony at Memorial Field.

The day started with a meet and greet at Mount Vernon High School, complete with gold medal cookies baked by culinary students. Administrators and council members spoke with Rai and his family to show their appreciation for him for the impact he has made on the community. 

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“It feels pretty good,” said Rai. “I mean, it’s good to be celebrated and to have gotten this far with everyone in this room that nurtured me to this point. I’m feeling really excited about it and I’m really happy. It’s just a testimony to having the hard work that I put in come to fruition. It’s very nostalgic being here.” 

Afterward, guests made their way over to the Hall of Fame, where Rai received a space with other notable alumni such as Dick Clark and Ken Singleton. Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith and MVHS Principal Dr. Pauline Pearce gave tribute to Rai in their speeches before revealing the newest addition.

“The names on this Hall of Fame showcase what the youth of Mount Vernon can look up to,” said Dr. Smith. “The faces up here are an inspiration to every student in our 16 schools. Rai, you have become a true role model for our scholars, and the Mount Vernon City School District and community will appreciate you forever for that.”

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“As I talked to the teachers who had you, they had some very important things that they wanted to share with me,” said Dr. Pearce. “One of the things that they talked about was your humility. They talked about the fact that you were in with every one of your peers and you made sure that you were available to help anyone who needed help. That is something we want our children to aspire to be.” 

Once Rai received his spot on the Hall of Fame, he made his way onto the motorcade with his family, friends and coaches to head over to the MVHS track, where they announced the new name of the track as Rai Benjamin Track. 

“What an amazing day here," said JB Smoove, actor and MVHS alum. “We are celebrating Rai Benjamin; we call him King Benjamin. This is an extension of what's possible if you work hard and achieve your dreams. He has inspired so many young people here and showed that all their dreams are possible. I am here because I want to support him. Now, when I come back, I know that that track was just dedicated to this man. I am looking forward to his dreams, his achievements, and all of the seeds he just planted into the mind of these young people.”

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While at the track, Rai took photos with students and signed autographs before getting back on the motorcade to travel through the City of Mount Vernon and stop at all 16 schools, The Doles Center and City Hall. 

Many of Rai’s loved ones and friends attended the ceremonies and rode in the motorcade as well, celebrating as it passed through the city.

“It's a lot,” said Jeanette Mason, Rai’s mother. “I never imagined this day would come or happen. He’s been honored in such a way; he’s inducted in the Hall of Fame. I remember coming to Mount Vernon High School and seeing all of these famous actors and athletes on the Hall of Fame, and I did not imagine this happening or even the field being named after him. I’m just so happy. It’s a great accomplishment for him. It’s something I can’t even process, I can’t put it into words.”

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As the motorcade wound through the city, students and teachers cheered from in front of their schools. Students waved handmade signs that were created in art classes throughout the District. They understood the importance of Rai’s accomplishments and were inspired that he was from their hometown. 

“This is inspiring to me because students from small towns like Mount Vernon often get overlooked because they are not from big cities,” said Tristan Crawford, an eighth-grade student at Mount Vernon Honor Academy. “Rai Benjamin shows us that we can do anything!” 

Before the visit, seventh-grade Mount Vernon Leadership Academy students also watched the race. 

“My favorite part about watching the race was when he jumped over the last hurdle,” said Cinsir Vasquez, a seventh-grade student at MVLA. “I feel excited to see a celebrity who has been all around the world running for us.” 

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Bystanders watched as the motorcade passed their homes and waved to the Olympian. The motorcade finally stopped at Memorial Field, where the plaza leading into the field was renamed Rai Benjamin Plaza. 

Marcus Green, Rai’s coach at MVHS, stood before the crowd at Memorial Field and recognized the impact that Rai has made on the city.

“I had the opportunity to ride around in the back of the motorcade and watch as we proceeded through the city, and I saw some amazing things. I saw some young people light up when this young man came by. I saw young people cheering and high fiving each other running along, trying to keep up.”

Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard recognized the groups of dignitaries at Memorial Field, which included Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, New York State Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, Mount Vernon City Council President Cathlin Gleason and City of Mount Vernon Comptroller Darren Morton. 

“What we continuously hear is that it is the support of family, it is the support of community, it is the support of teachers, it is the support and the volunteerism of so many who come together who allow you to be successful,” said Mayor Patterson-Howard. “We want to congratulate you not only for your track endeavors and being a world Olympian, but I also want to thank you for being an incredible role model.”

Rai received a key to the City of Mount Vernon and proclamations from the City of Mount Vernon, Westchester County conferred by Deputy County Executive Jenkins, and the State of New York conferred by Assemblyman Pretlow. As the ceremony closed, the mark that Rai Benjamin has made on his hometown was clear, and it will last for the next generations with the Rai Benjamin Track and the Rai Benjamin Plaza at Memorial Field.

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