The speaker for spring 2022 graduation is James A. Bennett
James A. Bennett is the speaker for USC Aiken’s spring graduation. Bennett, an alum of the University of South Carolina’s political science program, currently serves as vice-chair of the USC Education Foundation and the Midlands Business Leadership Group. He has also had a successful career as a banker.
According to MidlandsBiz, Bennett is the first African American to be named an Outstanding Young Banker by the South Carolina Bankers Association in 1998. In 2020, he was named chairman of the same association, being the first African American to hold the position. He also previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of United Way of the Midlands and chaired the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, an organization under United Way. Bennett was named United Way of the Midlands Humanitarian of the Year. He was also awarded the Whitney M. Young Service Award by the Boy Scouts of America in 2000 and the African American Achievement Award by the March of Dimes in 2006.
“He is a uniting figure and wonderful role model. He always considers broad constituencies and stakeholders on matters. He truly has the best interest of the community in mind,” said BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and United Way of the Midlands former board member Andy Folsom.
Bennett currently acts as the director for Dominion Energy and is also on the boards of Columbia Urban League and Prisma Health. He was formerly chairman of the Claflin University Board of Trustees.
