Pekin senior Caden Bender

In the spotlight is senior Caden Bender. He is the son of Calder and Sarah Bender. He has one brother, Jackson.

In high school Caden has been involved in football, track, baseball, FFA, Ruritan Rising Seniors, and drama. He has also worked at Cobb Oil and Hy-Vee.

What's your favorite school memory/OR what will you remember the most? Breaking the elevator at Indoor State Track sophomore year.

If you could go back and change one thing, what would it be? Try a lot harder than I did in my classes.

Finish this sentence, “I could not live without…” Jesus.

What's the best and/or worst thing about being a senior? Best — Close to being done with High school. Worst — Won’t see my friends and teachers as much after graduation.

Which teacher or staff member had the biggest impact on you and why? Mrs. Bates has been a great mentor and friend to me, from helping me with college classes and just anything in general.

What’s your advice to incoming high school freshmen? Respect your teachers and be kind to them. Turn in your work on time.

What are your plans after graduation? Go to Indian Hills or William Penn then transfer to Iowa State to finish my degree in Kinesiology and Sports Medicine.

What is one outrageous thing you want to try in your lifetime? I want to try to catch a shark.

If you could move anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Florida, I will catch that shark.

Who has been your biggest influence and why? My Grandpa has been the biggest influence for me, he has taught me so many life skills and helped me become the guy I am today. I wouldn’t be the same without him.

Do you have any additional comments? “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” — Romans 8:31