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Institutional News

UNCF Recognized Benedict College with the 2024 UNCF Institutional Excellence Award

President Roslyn Clark Artis accepts the 2024 UNCF Institutional Excellence Award during the 2024 UNITE: UNCF Summit for Black Education in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 2024 UNITE: UNCF Summit for Black Education recently held in Atlanta, GA included more than 75 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The conference was the largest and most impactful Summit to date according to Ed Smith-Lewis, UNCF’s Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnership and Institutional Programs and leader of its Institute for Capacity Building.

During the five-day Conference, UNCF recognized Benedict College with the 2024 UNCF Institutional Excellence Award, for achieving next-level performance.

“It is an honor to receive UNCF’s most prestigious award” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. “We, at Benedict College, have executed strategies to make us a more resilient and thriving institution and we are committed to adapting processes to meet the needs of today’s learners. This recognition affirms the collective efforts of the Benedict College Trustees, Staff, and Faculty. Teamwork really does make the dream work!”

SC Historically Black Colleges Awarded $1.5M in federal historic preservation grants

Benedict College and Voorhees University, both small private schools, are each receiving $750,000 to restore historic buildings under the Park Service’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities grant program for historic preservation.

Since 1995, the Park Service has awarded more than $107 million in grants to historically Black colleges and universities across the country.

That includes $10.7 million to 15 projects in eight states this year, according to a release this week.

“It’s vital for America’s HBCUs to preserve their vibrant history, ensuring that the places and the events that happened there are not forgotten,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a statement. “I’m proud that the National Park Service can support this locally-led stewardship.”

Benedict College, one of two private historically Black colleges located in Columbia, will use the funding to continue preservation of the Starks Center, formerly Starks Library.



The building, constructed in 1935, was designed by and named for John Starks, Benedict College’s first Black president. The building is one of the five buildings in the Benedict College Historic District, which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987.

The BEST of BC Faculty and Staff

Benedict College and Integer Technologies were pleased to host Rear Admiral Kurt J. Rothenhaus, Chief of Naval Research, to discuss how this partnership will augment cybersecurity research and STEM workforce diversity for the military. Pictured above from left to right: Gurcan Comert, Ph.D., associate professor at Benedict College; Aravind Prakash, Ph.D., lead cyber physical systems scientist at Integer; Dylan Temple, Ph.D., director of technology development at Integer; Abdulmajid Mrebit, Ph.D., assistant professor at Benedict College; Rear Adm. Kurt J. Rothenhaus; Godwin E. Mbamalu, Ph.D., associate vice president for research and distinguished professor at Benedict College; Negash Begashaw, Ph.D., associate professor at Benedict College; Josh Knight, Ph.D., COO at Integer; Crystal Pee, Ph.D., STEM Workforce Development Research Scientist at Integer.

Benedict College and Integer Technologies announced that the Office of Naval Research (ONR) has awarded a $7.9 million contract to increase the cyber resilience of autonomous systems and enhance the workforce supporting the defense research enterprise. 

The two main components of the program, titled Resilient Autonomous Systems and Workforce Diversity, include: 1) research into automated cyber-physical security to improve the resilience of intelligent autonomous systems (IAS) against cyberattacks, and 2) enhancing the defense research capacity and STEM curriculum (science, technology, engineering, and math) at Benedict College to support the development of a highly skilled, technical workforce trained to meet the specialized technology needs of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). 

Recruiting, educating, and retaining a world-class workforce is one of the strategic goals in the Navy’s IAS Science and Technology Strategy. Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) represent a critical resource for STEM graduates, especially as they have a high percentage of students who are U.S. citizens, a key requirement for DoD projects. Both the industry and academic portions of the work will be performed in Columbia, SC.

Funding from this contract will support the development of a master’s degree program in computer science and engineering at Benedict College, which would be the first graduate engineering degree of its kind at an HBCU in South Carolina.

The BEST of BC Students Lead

L-R: Benedict College Professor, Adrian Gale, along with students Anthony Stubbs and Tony Munnings are greeted by Congressman James E. Clyburn, South Carolina, 6^th District.

The United States Environmental Department’s Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are actively working together to help expand the workforce readiness of minority students in STEM fields by leveraging a successful partnership.

Each year, students from across the country participate in the MSEIP Student Research Conference which showcases the research supported by the MSEIP grant. The EPA selects and pays for top MSEIP environmental research teams to present their research at the National Environmental Justice Conference held in Washington, DC.

“I am extremely proud that Benedict College’s MSEIP student research team was selected out of 100 teams across the country,” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. “Our college has a great history of success with this innovative program that is assisting our STEM students in being competitive in the workforce.”

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The BEST of BC Athletics

Benedict College senior defensive end Aaron Miller and sophomore kicker Lucas Wynn have been named to the 2024 SIAC preseason All-Conference football team, the league announced on Tuesday, in preparation for Wednesday's SIAC Football Media Day at the College Football Hall of Fame.

Benedict, the two-time defending SIAC champions, was picked to finish fifth in the 13-team SIAC.

Miller is Benedict's top returning defensive player, after a 2023 season that saw him finish with 47 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss (-91 yards), 10.5 sacks (-71 yards), four quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one pass breakup. Miller, a second-team All-SIAC selection at all-purpose defense, was named to the preseason first team on the defensive line.

The Benedict College men's and women's tennis teams, as well as six student-athletes, have been recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) for their academic achievements.

The ITA is proud to announce the 2024 Division II Men's and Women's ITA Scholar-Athletes and All-Academic Teams. Academia is an integral aspect of the college tennis experience and adds to the unique student-athlete experience found on college campuses across the nation.

Within the sport of tennis, student-athletes continue to exceed expectations in the classroom and on the court. In 2024, 543 Division II Men's student-athletes were named an ITA Scholar-Athlete, and 78 men's tennis programs were awarded the All-Academic Team distinction. A total of 759 Division II women's student-athletes were named an ITA Scholar-Athlete, and 112 women's tennis programs were awarded the All-Academic Team distinction.

Both the Benedict teams achieved the honor of All-Academic Team.

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2024 Preseason All-SIAC Women's Volleyball team, individual honors and preseason rankings on Friday, featuring nine returning players from the 2023 SIAC Women's Volleyball All-Conference team.

Benedict sophomore middle blocker Desire' Young was named the second team. The Lady Tigers were picked to finish fourth in the SIAC East Division.

Young had a standout season as a freshman in 2023. She averaged 0.68 blocks per set, while averaging 2.09 kills per set and hit .311, the best of any regular rotation player. Her hitting percentage ranked fifth best in the SIAC in 2023.

The Lady Tigers went 10-9 in conference player last season to finish fourth in the SIAC East. They are picked to finish fourth again, behind the same three teams that finished ahead of them in 2023 – Albany State, Edward Waters and Clark Atlanta.

Benedict opens the 2024 season on Sept. 4 at Livingstone College. The home opener is Sept. 10 at 6 p.m., also against Livingstone.

For the 11th time in the last 13 years, the Benedict College baseball team has been named the NCAA statistical champion for stolen bases per game.

The NCAA recently announced the statistical champions for the 2024 season. Benedict College stole 160 bases in 39 games, for an average of 4.10 stolen bases per game.

Under head coach Selwyn Young, the Tigers have stolen 3,075 bases during his 16 seasons, an average of more than 192 per season.

In 2024, the Tigers had seven players reach double figures in stolen bases, led by Jamell Mitchell Jr., who had 34 total stolen bases. His 0.89 stolen bases per game ranked fourth in Division II last season, and led the SIAC. Justin Murray finished with 19 stolen bases out of 21 attempts.

The Tigers went 14-25 during the 2024 season.

The 2025 season will open on Feb. 15 with a SIAC doubleheader against Miles College. Miles finished third in the nation in stolen bases per game, while another SIAC school – Savannah State – was second.

Benedict College' Clint Forbes has been named the 2024 men's volleyball NCAA statistical leader for digs per set, the NCAA announced.

Forbes averaged 3.22 digs per set during the 2024 season. He recorded 245 total digs in 76 sets played. He topped Nicklas Eichenberger from Emmanuel (GA), who finished with 3.09 digs per set.

Forbes was named the SIAC Libero of the Year.

Off the court, Forbes graduated in May with a perfect 4.0 GPA, and was named the SIAC's Elite 14 Award winner for men's volleyball twice during his stellar career. At Benedict's graduation ceremony, he was named the Outstanding Senior from the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship. He has been recognized as a President's Trophy recipient, in addition to serving as an Ambassador for the Center for Financial Advancement and the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development.

Alumni Spotlight

Benedict Tigers Surpass Their Fundraising Goal for the 10^th Consecutive Year!

Benedict Tigers across the world are celebrating a major milestone today. For the last 10 years, Benedict College alumni and friends have collectively pushed past their record-setting fundraising goals. The 2024 Annual Fund goal was $1.5M.  The goal was surpassed by $230,000 for a total of $1,730,173.45.

“Maintaining this incredible momentum of philanthropy since 2014 is no easy feat,” said Ada Brown Belton, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement for Benedict College. “A decade of overachieving our financial goal has been led by some remarkably dedicated alumni.”



Leading the record-breaking campaign this year were Chairwoman Dr. Elsie Hamler and Co-Chair Marlene McClerklin along with 10 devoted volunteers. “We applaud Hamler and McClerklin’s leadership and the generosity of our phenomenal Benedict Tigers and friends for their commitment to helping deserving students who will benefit from this year’s fundraising success,” said Mrs. Cedelle E. Gates, President of the Benedict College National Alumni Association.  

Benedict College Alumnus and South Carolina civil rights legend, John Alexander Gaines, has passed away at 83. Gaines, a student leader of the NAACP organized many protests in Rock Hill, SC during the civil rights era.

South Carolina civil rights legend John Alexander Gaines, who spent a month in the York County jail in 1961 after protesting segregation in his hometown of Rock Hill, has died in Florence. Gaines, 83, died June 5, according to the Florence County Coroner’s Office. A retired lawyer, Gaines lived in Florence for much of his adult life.

GAINES: A LIFE IN CIVIL RIGHTS

A student leader of the NAACP who helped organize many of Rock Hill’s protests in the civil rights era, Gaines graduated from Benedict College in Columbia and Howard University Law School. Gaines served as a clerk for Matthew Perry, the legendary African-American lawyer in South Carolina for whom the federal courthouse in Columbia is named. Gaines came back to Rock Hill before he joined the NAACP Legal Defense team in Florence. Through most of his adult life, Gaines was a civil rights lawyer who continued to fight for others, said another Friendship Nine member, David Williamson Jr.

“John Gaines was a warrior,” Williamson said Monday. “He was never afraid. He believed in what we were doing then and did it all his life. He always put others before himself.” On the 50th anniversary of the 1961 protests, Gaines told The Herald he and the other young Black men in the Friendship Nine wanted a better country for all people. “We had no idea at the time we did this that our actions would re-ignite the civil rights movement across the South,” Gaines said in 2011.

Community

A study last year by the University of South Carolina found that areas of Columbia are much hotter than others, many of them being downtown.

As a way to help residents beat the heat, the city has come up with a solution, plant a tree.

Over the next five years, the city of Columbia in partnership with Columbia Green plans to plant more than 1,700 trees in certain residential areas of town.

The goal is to help reduce the amount of heat in Soda City, but Columbia mayor Daniel Rickenmann believes that can be done in another way as well.

For those who are interested in more green in their community, Rickenmann urges them to get involved. The project has scheduled quarterly meetings to update residents about the progress. 

The tree planting initiative was unveiled at Benedict College on Saturday. Columbia’s mayor says the school’s students can help beautify their city as well.