USC Aiken
USC Aiken Announces Spring Graduation Speaker
Aiken, SC (04/01/2022) — The University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken) announces James A. Bennett, Mid-South Area Executive at First Citizens Bank will deliver the commencement address at the spring graduation ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, May 4.
At First Citizens Bank, Bennett leads branch, business, and commercial banking teams. Based in Columbia, South Carolina, he is responsible for portions of South Carolina and Georgia, comprised of over $2 billion in deposits and $1 billion in loans.
Bennett was the first African-American to receive the Outstanding Young Banker Award from the South Carolina Bankers Association in 1998. Other awards include Humanitarian of the Year, United Way of the Midlands (2022), Thaddeus Bythewood Award, Claflin University (2018), University of South Carolina Black Alumni Award Recipient (2012), and many more.
Bennett has been actively involved in the Columbia Urban League for more than 25 years and served as league chairman for two terms. Since 2006, he has served as a member of Claflin University's Board of Trustees, most recently presiding over the board as chairman for the past two years.
Bennett was born in Washington, D.C., and moved to Cheraw, South Carolina, shortly after that. He has been a South Carolina resident for more than 50 years. He has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of South Carolina and is a graduate of the South Carolina Bankers School.
For additional information, contact Katie Gantt, associate director of news and information at USC Aiken, at katie.gantt@usca.edu or 803-641-3738.
Media Attachments
Bennett has been actively involved in the Columbia Urban League for more than 25 years and served as league chairman for two terms. Since 2006, he has served as a member of Claflin University's Board of Trustees, most recently presiding over the board as chairman for the past two years.
USC Aiken
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