Benedict College is the First HBCU in South Carolina to Offer an Accredited Environmental Engineering Program

Benedict College is the first HBCU in South Carolina to offer an accredited BS degree in Environmental Engineering, one of only two in the state. Clemson University is the only other institution in South Carolina with an accredited Environmental Engineering program. Since its inception in 2012, the program has more than doubled its enrollment, indicating a growing demand for the major.

Benedict College is now in on one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, offering gaming, and a degree track in esports.

“We’re here to make a change. We’re here to put black faces in all colors of the scale into esports,” said Kylah Montgomery, a double art major at Benedict College. She is one of one of dozens of students on the college campus, now on the cusp of history.



Benedict College is now the first HBCU in the nation to launch an esports gaming room, and degree track dedicated to all things esports.

We are grateful for the leadership of our

President and CEO, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis!

The BEST of BC Faculty and Staff

The BEST of BC Students Lead

President Artis hosted a special dinner to welcome the freshmen students to campus. Members of the BC Royal Court also walked around café and introduced themselves to the newcomers to help them feel at home.

(L-R) Nina Rutherford, Miss Benedict College 2022-23; Mr. Oscar Wyatt, Mister Benedict 2022-2023; President Artis, Malachi Surney, Mister Junior; Morgan Miles, Miss Junior; Miss Autumn Tisdale, Miss Sophomore; and Myles China, Mister Sophomore.

Members of the 2022-23 Student Government Association (L-R) Craig Morton, Jr., Secretary; Sonalis Muhammad, Vice President; Vivica McBean, SGA President; and Zyion Kirkland, Business Manager.

Eleven students from Benedict College joined nine students from other historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to participate in a summer research program at Missouri University of Science and Technology. The program was designed to encourage engineering students from underrepresented groups to pursue graduate studies.



This year, students in Missouri S&T’s Summer Engineering Research Academy (SERA) represent Benedict Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi; Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama; Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi; Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia; and Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi.

Tykerria Fowler

Now in its fourth year, the two-month program involves the students in a range of research projects, including testing bridge-girder strength, analyzing lunar plasma to allow humans to live on the moon, and studying plants’ role in cleaning pollutants from soil and water.

“The SERA program gives students an opportunity to understand the research and capabilities we have at Missouri S&T and what opportunities graduate school could provide for them,” says Dr. Phillip Mulligan, assistant teaching professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and SERA director. “They use the knowledge they gained from their current institutions and develop deeper understanding in their fields.”

Dania Collie

Mulligan says the SERA program provides students not only with research experiences, but also with networking, team building, and personal and professional development. While they attend SERA, the students live in a residence hall on campus and meet for weekly workshops that provide additional opportunities for learning.

Twenty students participated in SERA this summer:

·     Ikenna Aku, Jackson State University

·     Arizechukwu Anachebe, Fort Valley State University

·     Binyam Assefa, Jackson State University

·     Hawa Barry, Benedict College

·     Skye Bonaby, Benedict College

·     Antoine Bowleg, Benedict College

·     Dania Collie, Benedict College

·     Devontae Deveaux, Benedict College

·     Tykerria Fowler, Benedict College

·     Ji’han Humes, Benedict College

·     Chukwuka James, Alcorn State University

·     Decordre Johnson, Benedict College

·     Tony Munnings, Benedict College

·     Conrad Newry, Benedict College

·     Olusegun Olutade, Jackson State University

·     Demetrice Parks, Fort Valley State University

·     Denzel Paul, Benedict College

·     Anthony Stubbs, Benedict College

·     Joshua Tyler, Tuskegee University

·     Daniel Umoh, Mississippi Valley State University

Tony Munning

The SERA program allows Missouri S&T to further build bonds with participating HBCUs and collaborate with the schools to continue research when the students return to their home campuses.

Benedict College Welcomes its First Females to the

Naval Preparatory Program

Pictured: (from left to right) Tynisha McCray; Florence SC; Mya Evertez; Waldorf MD; and Semira Daniels; Charlotte NC

Among the members of the Class of 2026, are three extraordinary young ladies who are making history at Benedict College by becoming the school’s first students to fully enroll in the Navy ROTC program. They are all recipients of a full Navy ROTC scholarship. They also receive a salary while attending college.

When the young ladies graduate from Benedict, they will become Commissioned Officers in the US Navy. Benedict College is the only College in SC with the NPP Scholarship program.

On August 3rd, CNN recommended listening to Benedict College Marching Band of Distinction featuring William Bilal's trombone solo in "Black and Blues".

If this jaw-dropping, goosebump-raising, completely masterful trombone solo doesn't get you ready and rocking, nothing will. ~ CNN

The Benedict College baseball team is among the nearly 700 college and high school programs from across the country that have been awarded the 2021-22 American Baseball Coaches Association Team Academic Excellence Award, which is presented by Sports Attack.

Teams from every level of college and high school baseball were honored with this year's award, which highlights programs coached by ABCA members that posted a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for the entire 2021-22 academic year.

Over 250 high school programs and more than 420 collegiate programs were recognized with this year's award. Benedict was one of 87 NCAA Division II teams that was recognized. The Tigers had a team GPA of 3.03.

Tigers, O'Connor Named NCAA Statistical

Stolen Base Champions

The Benedict College baseball team has been named the 2022 NCAA Division II statistical champion for stolen bases per game, while Bradon O'Connor was the individual statistical champion for stolen bases per game.

Benedict averaged 5.79 stolen bases per game, easily outdistancing runner-up West Chester, which averaged 3.06 stolen bases per game. Benedict stole 272 total bases in 47 games. Benedict had the top two single-game performances with 18 stolen bases against Lane and 17 against Morris.

Benedict head women's basketball coach James Rice has announced the addition of 10 student-athletes for the 2022-23 school year.

Joining the two-time reigning SIAC champions are three transfers and seven freshmen.

"The staff and I are excited about our women's basketball 2022 recruiting class," Rice said. "This is one of the largest recruiting classes we've had in a very long time. All of our recruits understand the program's goals and objectives on and off the court. Our program's standards have always been set high. With our skillful returnees along with the addition of this year's talented recruiting class, we all are looking forward to the many challenges and obstacles in our path ahead." 

Benedict College junior outside hitter Cana Smith and junior middle blocker Kaiah Green have been named to the 2022 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) preseason All-Conference women's volleyball team.

Smith, who was named to the 2021 SIAC All-Conference second team, was named to the preseason first team. Smith averaged 3.02 kills per set last season with a hitting percentage of .172.

Green, a junior, was named to the preseason second team. Last year, Green ranked among the SIAC's leaders in blocks per game, averaging 0.82 blocks per set.

Benedict was picked to finish third in the SIAC East Division. Albany State was picked to finish first, with Edward Waters the pick to finish second.

All votes are submitted by SIAC head volleyball coaches and sports information directors.

Bradon O'Connor, the national NCAA Division II stolen base champion, has signed a professional contract with the Rocky Mountain Vibes of the Pioneer League. The Pioneer League is an independent baseball league in partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB). The team is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and plays home games at UCHealth Park.

The Vibes have been a member of the Pioneer League since 2019. The league was converted from the MLB-affiliated Rookie Advanced League to an independent baseball league and was permitted status as an "MLB Partner League". They were an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019 and 2020.

In his final game of his collegiate career, O'Connor became the new NCAA Division II stolen base champion when he stole 97 bases in 105 attempts breaking the previous record of 96 steals set in 1987 by Crisco Johnson, who set the record in 49 games. O'Connor accomplishment came in 43 games.

Alumni Spotlight

Trustee Tyrone Burroughs will receive the 2022 Distinguished Citizen Award by the Chickasaw Council, Boy Scouts of America. The Award recognizes individuals who have performed Scout-like community service within the Memphis, Tennessee community. 



The Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner will be held on October 27, 2022.