H 5390  Resolution, By Rutherford, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, 
Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bradley, Brawley, 
Brittain, Bryant, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Carter, Caskey, Chumley, Clyburn, 
Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Collins, B.Cox, W.Cox, Crawford, Dabney, Daning, Davis, 
Dillard, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Fry, Gagnon, Garvin, 
Gatch, Gilliam, Gilliard, Govan, Haddon, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, 
Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, 
Hyde, Jefferson, J.E.Johnson, J.L.Johnson, K.O.Johnson, Jones, Jordan, King, 
Kirby, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Magnuson, Matthews, May, McCabe, McCravy, 
McDaniel, McGarry, McGinnis, McKnight, J.Moore, T.Moore, Morgan, D.C.Moss, 
V.S.Moss, Murphy, Murray, B.Newton, W.Newton, Nutt, Oremus, Ott, Parks, 
Pendarvis, Pope, Rivers, Robinson, Rose, Sandifer, Simrill, G.M.Smith, G.R.Smith, 
M.M.Smith, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Tedder, Thayer, Thigpen, Trantham, Weeks, 
West, Wetmore, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, R.Williams, S.Williams, Willis, 
Wooten and Yow
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR BENEDICT COLLEGE FOR ITS MANY AND
 SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EDUCATION AND CULTURE OF OUR CITIZENS AND TO
 DECLARE MAY 12, 2022, AS "BENEDICT COLLEGE 2021-2022 SIAC CHAMPIONSHIP
 CELEBRATION DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

   05/11/22  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 307)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR BENEDICT COLLEGE FOR ITS MANY AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EDUCATION AND CULTURE OF OUR CITIZENS AND TO DECLARE MAY 12, 2022, AS "BENEDICT COLLEGE 2021-2022 SIAC CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciate the outstanding opportunities that Benedict College affords to our citizens and to the Palmetto State; and

Whereas, an exemplary institution of higher learning in this State, this Historically Black College University (HBCU) produces powers for good in society and for this great State and nation; and

Whereas, during the 2021-2022 athletic season, the Benedict College Tigers won six Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championships in the following sports: men's cross country, women's basketball, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's track and field, and women's track and field. Additionally, the Benedict Cheerleading team was the voter's choice champion for the 2022 SIAC Virtual Cheer Showcase held in February of this year; and

Whereas, three Benedict College coaches were named SIAC Coaches of the Year for the 2021-2022 athletic season. Coach Frank Hyland was chosen for Men's Cross Country and Men's and Women's Track and Field. Coach Gary Taylor was chosen for Men's Tennis, and Coach Gwendolyn Rouse was chosen for Men's Volleyball; and

Whereas, among the extraordinary athletes at Benedict College, two men were selected as players of the year: Sophomore Jesse Delancey on the men's volleyball team and Senior Tajh Green on the men's basketball team; and

Whereas, a grand total of thirty-nine athletes were named SIAC All-Conference Players and fifty athletes received SIAC All-Conference recognitions at individual events during the 2021-2022 athletic season; and

Whereas, Tajh Green, power forward for the men's basketball team, was invited to play in the inaugural HBCU All-Star Game held in New Orleans on April 3, 2022, and with three three-point field goals, twelve points, and seven rebounds, was selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the game; and

Whereas, these Benedict College athletes are not just competitors in sports, but are also scholars in the classroom. Among them, they collectively garnered an average GPA of 3.0 for the 2021-2022 athletic season; and

Whereas, the 2021-2022 athletic season marks the most SIAC championships won in a single athletic season in the history of Benedict College with a grand total of seven trophies amassed; and

Whereas, as a result of this season's outstanding performances by its athletes, Benedict College will be presented with the 2021-2022 SIAC Men's Sports and Women's Sports Commissioner's Cup, an honor bestowed upon the top overall athletic program in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC); and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciates the pride and recognition that the athletes at Benedict College have brought to their school and to the Palmetto State, and look forward to following the tremendous accomplishments of its talented athletes in the days to come. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Benedict College for its many and significant contributions to the education and culture of our citizens and declare May 12, 2022, as "Benedict College 2021-2022 SIAC Championship Celebration Day" in South Carolina.