It takes a lot of passion and determination for a student to fully utilize their senior project.
Corbin Hernandez is one such student. Hernandez, a theater major, is boldly writing a play about two very important figures of Benedictine College: St. Benedict and St. Scholastica.
Fr. Brendan Rolling, OSB, who commissioned Hernandez to write the play and to help with his research, sent Hernandez out on a pilgrimage to Europe to learn more about St. Benedict.
Rolling thought that in order for Hernandez to fully understand the lives of the two saints he needed to really be there; immersed in the land and culture.
Hernandez was able to take Sarah Wostenberg along as his research assistant. According to Hernandez, her assistance was invaluable.
“She helped me understand the language [because her knowledge of the Spanish language helped with all the Italian], she provided another insight to all the places we researched, and overall just helped keep me organized,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez and Wostenburg visited Norcia, the place of Benedict’s and Scholastica’s birth; Rome, the place Benedict studied as a boy; Subiacco, the place Benedict spent 3 years alone in a cave; and Cassino, the place Benedict built the Monte Cassino and spent his last days.
The 11 day trip was fast paced, as Hernandez was striving to put into his play the perspective of the man, myth, and legend of St. Benedict to the best of his abilities.
“Through my travels I learned of the amazingly strong bond between Benedict and Scholastica, so consequently the play will reflect that as well,” Hernandez said.
His goal for the play is to chronicle the lives of the saints so that the students of this college may fully understand the magnificent feats they accomplished.
Yet, it wasn’t the beautiful country of Italy that inspired Hernandez.
It was the amazing people of the Benedictine communities there who provided invaluable insight to the saints’ lives.
They shared experiences and knowledge with Hernandez that could only be gained by living in Italy.
The country is very proud of St. Benedict. There are many legends and insights only natives of Italy can provide.
“It was through these experiences that I learned the most,” said Hernandez.
Plenty of historical research is needed in order to write a play about a person. As saint requires even more work, so the play is still in its researching phase.
“I need to know as much as possible about the time the two saints lived, how the world was around them, and how they, in turn, effected that world to what we know of as history today,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez has a good outline and direction as to the action of the play. He also has an idea of where it will go and is currently starting the writing process.
Rolling made it clear to Hernandez that the play is to be performed on campus.
After it is completed (around May) the college will then determine when it will be performed.
“That’s about all I can say about it; my senior project stops at the completion of the play being written. The performances of the play are out of my control after it’s done being written,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez’s accomplishments do not stop with studying abroad.
He recently won two awards at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival as well.
Hernandez won a classical acting award and an award for being the first runner up of the competition.
There were two “winners”, so if either of them are unable to go to the national competition in April, Hernandez will be allowed to take their place.
From there, Hernandez would be competing against the two winners of the other regions who had the same competition in their perspective regions.
“After performing, I felt such a lift off my shoulders, and I was so happy. I left all I had out there on that stage, I did my best, I glorified God, and I’m happy with the results,” Hernandez said.
It was also special because Benedictine College has only competed in this competition one other time before this, and that was last year.
This year was Benedictine’s second year, leaving with not just one, but two awards, thanks to Hernandez, which gives us great hope for more successful endeavors in the future.
