Benedict College Takes Top Honors as HBCU of the Year

COLUMBIA, SC – Recently, in downtown Baltimore, HBCU Digest hosted the annual HBCU Awards ceremony where Benedict College (BC) received the top honor of HBCU of the Year.

“Benedict garnered six (6) nominations this year in the categories of Board of Trustees of the Year, National Alumni Association of the Year, Male Faculty and Coach of the Year, Female President of the Year, and the highest honor, HBCU of the Year, which we were awarded! These nominations and the receipt of the coveted HBCU of the Year Award reflect the hard work and commitment of the entire Tiger Pride! Now, the rest of the world knows that we are collectively, TheBESTofBC,” says Benedict College President and CEO, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis.

The overall purpose of the HBCU Awards, according to HBCU Digest, is to reflect the vision, innovation, and progress of the entire campus community.

“Two years ago, our president coined the term (TheBESTofBC) to reflect Benedict’s commitment to being the best at everything we do … HBCU of the Year reflects the hard work and the commitment to HBCU excellence on the part of every constituent of Benedict College—trustees, the president, the cabinet, the faculty, the staff, the students, and the alumni… WE ARE BENEDICT COLLEGE!” stated VP of Institutional Advancement Leandra Hayes Burgess in the acceptance remarks.

“It was an honor to be in the midst of HBCUs across the country and to celebrate our achievements in academics, sports, and individual achievements, and that makes our win extra special,” stated Dr. Emmanuel Lalande, VP of Enrollment Management for Benedict College.

Benedict College was nominated in six categories this year, including Female President of the Year, the third consecutive nomination for Benedict’s President Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, who won the honor in 2018.

In March 2019, Benedict College was also awarded the 2019 American Council on Education (ACE) Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation. The award recognizes institutions across the U.S. that have responded to higher education challenges in innovative and creative ways and achieved dramatic changes in a brief period. Benedict College was the second HBCU and the first private college to receive this national recognition.

About Benedict College
Benedict College will be a leader in providing transformative learning experiences for a diverse student body, defined by superior cultural, and professional competencies that are nurtured and developed by faculty, staff, and stakeholders who value innovation, customer service, community, and industry engagement. Founded in 1870, Benedict College is approaching 150 years of providing high quality academic programs to students who desire to pursue their program of study in a diverse academic environment. Benedict College offers its students transformative academic programs in an innovative, technology-enhanced, student-focused, culturally sensitive learning environment. The college is committed to preparing students to enter the global marketplace with exceptional cultural and professional competencies that will enable them to contribute to the sustainability and economic growth of their communities. Benedict offers 25 high-demand academic programs, including Computer Science, Engineering, Cyber Security, Mass Communication, Sport Management, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Biology, and Education. In addition to its academic programs, Benedict College is home to the standard-setting Career Pathways Initiative (CPI) program that is strategically designed to prepare Benedict College students for success in a rapidly changing, highly competitive and technology-driven workplace.

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