NATCHEZ — Rachel Benoit had just one week to convince delegates from across the world to vote for her to be the 2013-2014 Key Club International vice president.

The task was one the Cathedral School rising senior said was even more difficult facing two competitors from larger cities and schools — San Diego and Denver.

“Every time I would tell people I was from Natchez, they would just say, ‘I’m assuming that’s a small town,’” Benoit said. “The whole process was nerve wracking, but really exciting.”

Benoit attended the Key Club’s International Convention in Washington, D.C., last week after being previously endorsed by her home district, Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee District, to run for the position.

Key Club International is a student-led organization that provides members with opportunities to provide service, build character and develop leadership through projects.

Key clubs exist in high schools across the world and are separated into districts, which are defined by states, regions or nations.

Benoit joined Cathedral’s Key Club her freshman year after having participated in several events with her brothers, Stuart and Grant.

“They would take me to different service projects and tell me all about Key Club,” Benoit said. “It really inspired me to get involved.”

Benoit was then elected to serve as district Lt. Governor her sophomore year and district governor her junior year.

“The governor is essentially in charge of all the clubs in their district,” Benoit said. “They have a project they focus on each year, plan training conferences and district conventions.”

The project Benoit selected was Project Eliminate, which seeks to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus.

After working in the district positions for several years, Benoit said she decided to make the jump and seek endorsement for the international vice president position.

“Initially, I was going to run for re-election for district governor, but more people kept telling me I should seek the position,” Benoit said. “I took the hints and went for it.”

Benoit had to send in an application, create a self-promotional flier and make various speeches at the convention before the delegates electronically casted their ballots.

Even after the results were calculated and announced, Benoit still couldn’t believe the outcome.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Benoit said. “At first I was like, ‘Did that really happen?’

“Then, everyone started hugging me and congratulating me.”

Even if the feeling of being elected hasn’t sunk in, the responsibilities of the vice presidency are slowly approaching.

Benoit will attend leadership training in Indianapolis in two weeks and then begin traveling to various districts throughout the year.

Benoit is the daughter of Michael and Jean Benoit.