NORTH READING – Band Director Ben Owens was recently honored as an “All-Star Educator” who goes above and beyond to support his students and the community.
Nominated by North Reading High School band members, Owens was named to the Wasabi Fenway Bowl Honor Roll and was recently recognized during the 2024 Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park.
The Wasabi Fenway Bowl is sponsored by Wasabi Technologies, a cloud storage service provider. The annual football game features teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the American Athletic Conference. In the 2024 matchup, the UConn Huskies defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 27-14.
“I was so honored to have been one of 15 educators chosen out of 1,200 nominations to be recognized at the Fenway Bowl,” said Owens.
The honorees were selected from more than 100 cities and towns across New England for “providing academic and extracurricular support, forging personal connections, and creating welcoming and inclusive environments.” Each honoree also received a grant to continue building and supporting school programs such as North Reading’s band.
Fenway Bowl honoree
(Wasabi Fenway Bowl Photo)
“Mr. Owens inspires us to be better musicians and better people,” stated band member and section leader Luke Berkley.
Owens is “the foundation of a beautiful and vibrant community,” adds band member and color guard captain Cecilia Thomson.
“Through his passion and his dedication to his craft,” band member and drum major Raffi Toby notes, “Mr. Owens has had an impact on me and every student he’s ever worked with.”
Along with these sentiments, the following statement was submitted as Owens’ nomination for the Wasabi Fenway Bowl Honor Roll:
“North Reading Band Director Ben Owens is an all-star educator who has nearly tripled the size of the high school’s band program since he began due to his hard work, talent, dedication and enthusiasm. He has had an immeasurable impact on his students in and outside of the classroom, leading them in marching band competitions, concert and jazz band performances, town parades and community events, as well as guiding them on their journey to earning local awards and national recognition.
The nomination statement continued: “He sees the potential in all his students and nurtures their talents, which is evident in the incredible music they make together. He genuinely cares about each and every student and his door is always open for them. He is so proud of them and always lets them know it! His level of devotion goes above and beyond, creating a nurturing environment and place of belonging where students thrive. It is this commitment along with his vision for the band program and his kind and caring nature that make him an exceptional role model, mentor and friend.”
The Wasabi Fenway Bowl states that its mission is “simple but profound: to celebrate the spirit of football and give back to our community.”
The large group who gathered with Owens at Fenway Park to celebrate his accomplishment was a true testament to the impact he has had and how deserving he was of this honor.
“I got to have so many students, parents, family members and friends join me at the game,” Owens recalled. “It was an amazing experience that I will never forget!”
Mission accomplished, Wasabi Fenway Bowl!