Civil Rights Icon Rev. Jesses Jackson, along with Attorney and National Media Personality Eboni K. Williams, receive Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Benedict College

L-R: Trustee Elsie K. Hamler, Alumnus Bruce Corbitt, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Dr. Janeen P. Witty, and President Roslyn Clark Artis - Credit: AJ Shorter Photography

L-R: President Roslyn Clark Artis, Dr. Eboni K. Williams, and Trustee Elsie K. Hamler - Credit: AJ Shorter Photography

Benedict College was honored to have Eboni K. Williams deliver the commencement address for the 273-member class of 2022 at Benedict College on Friday evening. The former public defender, author, and media personality, told the class “You are qualified to lead, to think critically, to assert solutions, to question deeply, to take up space and to occupy positions at the highest level of any and every field you desire.”

“I am so proud of this graduating class of scholars because they are academically talented, natural born leaders, and they play to win!” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, president, and CEO of Benedict College. “The Class of 2022 will always be near and dear to my heart because they are the first class to be recruited by, and matriculate through, all four years under my administration. They are my first full graduating class!” I have taken great pride in watching their four-year transformation into becoming the BEST of BC!

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Benedict College is the first Institution of Higher Education in the Nation to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U. S. Department of Veteran Affairs to participate in the Veteran Health Administration (VHA) Health Care Talent Academy (HCTA). Benedict College scholars will participate in a dynamic and innovative learning and development program for undergraduate students interested in health careers. The MOA between the VA and Benedict College was signed by Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College, and Dr. Steven L. Lieberman, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, performing the delegable duties of the Under Secretary for Health.

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“I believe deeply in the value of collaboration, particularly among small, largely under-resourced institutions,” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, president of Benedict College, a private HBCU in South Carolina and one of the consortium’s inaugural members. “We may have a course with only three students enrolled, which is not cost-efficient. But a course-sharing agreement allows that student to take a class at another institution to stay on track to graduation. We see this as a student support and retention tool.”

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Benedict College is among 73 colleges and universities invited to participate in the third round of the Second Chance Pell Experiment, an initiative that was first launched by the Obama-Biden Administration to expand access to Federal Pell Grants for incarcerated students. 

“I commend the Biden-Harris Administration for continuing and broadening the Second Chance Pell Grants,” Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. “Education is empowering; and this program has proven to enhance public safety and strengthen our communities and our economy.”  

The expansion will bring the total number of schools able to participate in the Second Chance Pell Experiment to 200. The Department is also announcing changes to policies to help incarcerated individuals with defaulted loans, including affirming that incarcerated individuals qualify for a “fresh start,” which returns borrowers with defaulted loans to repayment in good standing and allows them to access programs like the Second Chance Pell Experiment.  

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Benedict College identical twin brothers in the ROTC program made history recently at Fort Jackson South Carolina. The identical twin brothers Juwan and Travon Biggers are recent graduates of Benedict College and earned their “Expert Soldiers Badge” (ESB) after completing and meeting all standards during the two-week course at Fort Jackson. The Biggers brothers are the first and only ROTC cadets in recorded American history to earn their ESB.

Benedict College announces the Appointment of Dr. Akilah Carter-Francique as the Dean of Education, Health, and Human Services. 

Dr. Carter-Francique brings to Benedict 20 years of experience in higher education, an extensive research background and a strong vision for leadership in the field of education.  

Dr. Carter-Francique formerly served as the Executive Director for the Institute for the Study of Sport, Society and Social Change at San José State University (SJSU). During her three years, she promoted conversations on equity, diversity, inclusion in sport and society and provided educational forums with webinars, conferences, and collaborations events and activities with thought leaders, scholars, students, and community members.

Carter-Francique also served as an Associate Professor in the Department of African American Studies where she supported course development inclusive of SJSU’s Ethnic Studies Collaborative and its General Education curriculum.  

Read full press release at www.benedict.edu.

On the evening of May 10, 2022 employees and guests gathered for a festive celebration to recognize and acknowledge years of dedicated service to the college. Employees reaching milestones of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years were honored from years 2019, 2020 and 2021. This group of employees collectively has provided over 1000 + years of service to the College and represent the #BestofBC.

“May you be proud of the work you have done, the person you are and the difference you have made." This was the inspiring message that resonated at a beautiful luncheon celebration for employees and their families and guests as the college celebrated their retirement. Twenty employees were recognized for their long and exemplary service to the college. As they enter a new chapter in their lives, join in wishing them a Happy Retirement.

Ms. Ada Brown Belton

Assistant Vice President

Alumni Relations & Adv. Services

July 1, 1977 - Aug. 3, 2020

Mrs. Wendy E. Bolden

Administrative Assistant

May 1, 2001-Jan. 15, 2022

Mr. Charles D. Brooks, Jr.

Assistant Professor

Director of Theatre

Sept. 25, 2000 - Sept. 14, 2020

Ms. Elaine Brown

Director of Human Resources

Office of the President

Nov. 18, 1985 - March 31, 2022

Mr. Lawrence Burwell

Records Center Coordinator

June 1, 1998 - Sept. 1, 2020

Ms. Brenda Clark

Assistant Professor

Social Work

Aug. 17, 1977 - May 13, 2021

Ms. Mary Louise Davis

Director of Student Activities

Sept. 1, 1973 - Feb. 15, 2021

Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Emenike

Professor

HPER

Aug. 1, 1988 - May 15, 2020

Dr. Betty Stukes

Professor

Behavioral Science

Aug. 19, 1993 - May 13, 2022

Dr. Ming Yin

Professor Computer Science, Physics, and Engineering

Aug. 18, 1994 - Nov. 23, 2021

Mrs. Jenny L. Screen

Executive Secretary

Office of the President

Sept. 1, 1971 - Dec. 31, 2020

Retirees not pictured

Once a practicing attorney in West Virginia, Benedict College President Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis found her destiny in higher education when a stint as an adjunct professor proved higher education was her true calling.

“The idea that you can change someone’s life in an hour and fifteen minutes twice a week was a heady notion for me and certainly much more rewarding than anything I had experienced in the practice of law,” she recalls.

On May 12th, Minority Leader of the South Carolina House of Representatives, J. Todd Rutherford, honored the Benedict College athletic department for their unprecedented 2021-2022 athletic season.

On the floor of the SC Statehouse, Representative Rutherford celebrated the six SIAC championships won by the BC Tigers this year and the Voter’s Choice Championship title given to the Benedict College cheerleading team.

Benedict Announces 2022 Football Schedule

The Benedict College Tigers have announced their 2022 football schedule, with five home games, including three under the lights.

The 2022 season will kick off on September 3 against Elizabeth City State University in the annual Carolinas Classic game.

After a trip to Lane College in Jackson, Tenn., on September 10, the Tigers return home to take on Savannah State on September 17 and Kentucky State on September 24.

Benedict travels to Fort Valley State on October 1, then returns home for its fourth home game in the first six weeks with an afternoon contest against Miles College.

The Tigers hit the road for three of their final four games, starting with trips to Albany State on October 15 and at Morehouse on October 22.

Benedict will be home on October 29 to take on Clark Atlanta for Homecoming.

The regular season ends on November 5 with a contest at rival Allen.

The SIAC Championship game is November 12 at the home of the Eastern Division champion.

All dates, times and locations are subject to change.

Benedict College's Bradon O'Connor earned another All-Region honor, as he was named to the 2022 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-South Region team, it was announced Thursday.

O'Connor was named to the second team at the utility player position. O'Connor was named the SIAC Utility Player of the Year after playing both second base and outfield. On Wednesday, he was named to the Conference Commissioner's Association All-South Region team as a second baseman. Earlier, he was named to the Black College Nines College Division All-Elite Team and Player of the Year.

Benedict sophomore outfielder Jalen McDuffie has been selected to participate in the 2022 Minority Baseball Prospects HBCU All-Star Baseball Game.

The HBCU All-Star Game, presented by the Henry "Hank" Louis Aaron Fund, will be played June 3 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga., home of the Atlanta Braves.

McDuffie hit .373 for the Tigers this season, second-best on the team. He had a team-best 16 doubles, which ranked 94th in NCAA Division II. He had an on-base percentage of .492, which ranked 69th-best in Division II.

Benedict College's Bradon O'Connor has been selected the Player of the Year by Black College Nines, while freshman outfielder Jamell Mitchell Jr. was also selected to their Elite second team.

O'Connor, a graduate student, was named the 2022 SIAC Utility Player of the Year, as well as First Team All-SIAC as a Utility Player. This year, he broke the NCAA Division II single-season record with 97 total stolen bases. He ranks No. 1 in the NCAA in total stolen bases and stolen bases per game. He also ranks third in Division II in batting average, fifth in on-base percentage, and 24th in toughest to strike out.

Mitchell, a freshman outfielder, hit .290 and ranked second in the NCAA, behind O'Connor, with 60 stolen bases. As Benedict's lead-off batter, he had a .399 on-base percentage and scored 51 runs.

Benedict freshman second baseman T'Yannah Lake was named to the SIAC All-Tournament Softball Team.

Lake went 5-for-12 (.417) at the plate for the Lady Tigers in the tournament with four RBIs and three runs scored. She went 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs in the opening game against Kentucky State. She went 2-for-4 with an RBI against Albany State.

The Benedict College Lady Tigers opened the SIAC Softball Championship with an 8-0 victory over Kentucky State on Thursday.

T'Yannah Lake went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs to lead the Lady Tigers at the plate. She had a solo homer in the second inning.

Benedict opened the first inning when Taylor McNeal walked. She stole second, third and then home to put the Lady Tigers on the board. Lake led off the second inning with a home run to make it 2-0. Lake hit a single to score two runs in the third inning to give the Lady Tigers a 4-0 lead.

With the bases loaded in the fourth inning, Daneisha Wooten hit into a fielder's choice, with Chesney Miller scoring from third. The Lady Tigers closed out the game with three runs in the fifth inning. Lake singled, advanced to second on an error and later scored on a stolen base. Miller hit a double to score Shaylin Pollock and McNeal hit a one-out RBI single to score Daisha Mitchell and end the game.

Olivia Townsend was superb in the circle for the Lady Tigers. She held Kentucky State to just three hits, struck out three and did not walk a batter.

Alumni Spotlight

The University of South Carolina School of Law unveiled a portrait of I.S. Leevy Johnson, ’68 law, Monday, May 2, 2022, in recognition of the trailblazing alumnus’ legal, business and political achievements. The portrait is displayed in the University of South Carolina's law library's reading room.

I.S. Leevy Johnson is a founding partner with the Johnson, Toal & Battiste law firm, and the first African American to complete the entire law curriculum at the University of South Carolina. He was one of the first Black men elected to the South Carolina General Assembly since Reconstruction, serving from 1970 to 1980, and became the first Black president of the South Carolina Bar Association in 1985. His numerous accolades include the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian award. He also serves as owner and director of Leevy’s Funeral Home in Columbia.

Attorney I.S. Leevy Johnson serves as General Counsel for the College.

On May 4th Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and voice for America’s 32.5 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, joined the “Building a Better America Through Entrepreneurship” bus tour to celebrated National Small Business Week 2022 in South Carolina. Administrator Guzman first visit was to the Benedict College Women’s Business Center where she was joined with President Artis and local elected officials to celebrate America’s small businesses who have played an integral role in powering our nation’s historically strong economic comeback.

L.W. Conder Elementary held a 5th Grade College Fair on Wednesday, May 22, 2022. The College Fair was well organized. Dr. Williams, Benedict College graduate, along with Ms. Dickson showcased the brilliance of their students through poster and oral presentations. Two fifth grade students selected Benedict College. There were about 45 student presentations. 

The judges' panel included educational and community leaders: Lena Sadiwskyj, News Director from Wach Fox, Brittney Hodges, Benedict grad and Trio program staffer from Midlands Technical College, Cynthia McCullough, Nathan Neil, and a host of other judges from education and media. The students were very impressive.

Dr. Vareva Harris, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management,

Division of Student Affairs, Benedict College, attended the Career Fair.

Benedict College alumna, LaChe' Williams Sumpter, pictured far left, is a teacher at L.W. Conder Elementary School.

Benedict College Marching Tigers Band of Distinction Family & Friends Packages for the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are available. Book yours TODAY!

For details and booking, visit https://tinyurl.com/BCBODFamilyandFriends. Use code: 1120