Candace Benefiel
Candace Benefiel | |
Noted subjects | Literature |
Past colleges | Texas A&M University (2002-2007) |
High school | Brazoswood (non-player) |
Stats | HDWhite • NAQT |
Candace Benefiel (1957-2017) was a player on the Texas A&M team that won 2006 ACF Nationals. Candace died of cancer on August 1, 2017.[1]. TQBA established a memorial trophy in her honor, the Candace R. Benefiel Memorial Middle Grades Champion Trophy.[2]
Faculty Sponsor
Candace was the faculty sponsor for Texas A&M from 1987 to 2017, and helped them transition from College Bowl to ACF and NAQT. She was also influential in founding TQBA.
Candace was an Associate Professor and Humanities Librarian for the Evans Library at Texas A&M University.
Player
Candace began coursework towards a PhD in English in 2000, and therefore became eligible to join the Texas A&M team she had long advised. While playing for Texas A&M, the team placed in the top 5 of every ACF Nationals from 2003 to 2007. At 2006 ACF Nationals, Candace had the tournament-winning buzz on the last tossup--Caesar and Cleopatra by George Bernard Shaw--to deliver Texas A&M's victory over Michigan.[3]