2026 Students of Distinction
Ben Ciaccio: World-ranked sprint canoe athlete
Gig Harbor Now is posting profiles featuring the Students of Distinction being honored by the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation. Peers, teachers or parents nominate students, who must be a graduating senior at a Peninsula School District school. A panel of community leaders selects students to be honored in one of seven categories: academics; athletics; career and technical excellence; community service; music, arts and drama; overcoming adversity; and science and technology.
These students will be celebrated during a banquet from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, at Ocean5, 5268 Pt. Fosdick Dr.
School: Peninsula High School
Category: Athletics
For Ben Ciaccio, success is not measured only by medals or rankings, but by growth, perseverance, and the joy of pushing himself to new limits. Over the past five years, the Peninsula High School senior has established himself as one of the nation’s top sprint canoe athletes, earning a place on Team USA and competing internationally at the Junior World Championships and Olympic Hopes Regatta.
A 26-time ACA U.S. Sprint National Championship medalist, Ben most recently earned the 2025 Andy Toro Award as Junior C1 200m National Champion and represented the United States at the Junior World Championships, where he finished ranked 21st in the world.
Ben Ciaccio
Despite his accomplishments, Ben says some of his proudest moments have come not from winning, but from being challenged. “One of my favorite feelings is racing neck and neck with someone who pushes me to my absolute limit,” he says. “If I gave everything I had, it was a success.”
That mindset was tested after the 2025 U.S. Junior Team Trials, when injuries to both elbows made training painful and uncertain. Initially resistant to seeking help, Ben eventually turned to physical therapy and learned an important lesson about vulnerability and perseverance.
“I realized that success doesn’t have to be a solitary pursuit,” he says. “You can ask for help and keep searching for solutions.”
Ben also faced challenges navigating a difficult training environment, relying heavily on teammates and friendships to maintain motivation and perspective. Those experiences strengthened his commitment to resilience — a value he says guides nearly every decision he makes.
Outside of competition, Ben found fulfillment coaching younger athletes through Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing summer programs. Helping children gain confidence in a difficult sport became one of the most rewarding parts of his journey.
“Watching kids go from constantly falling out of the boat to confidently paddling through the harbor is an amazing feeling,” he says.
Whether competing internationally or mentoring future athletes closer to home, Ben has learned that success is not simply about crossing a finish line first — it is about continuing to grow, persevere, and support others along the way.