Benjamin joins Theatre Hall of Fame
The S.C. Theatre Association honored long-time theatre leader, Jack Benjamin, executive director of the Etherredge Center and chair of the University of South Carolina Aiken Department of Visual and Performing Arts, during the organization's annual convention, held on the USC Aiken campus.
Benjamin was inducted into the S.C. Theatre Association Hall of Fame during the President's Reception on the second night of the three-day convention.
"If you participate in theatre in the Southeast, whether directly or by proxy, Jack has had an influence on you," said Dewey Scott Wiley, a USC Aiken theatre professor.
After the announcement, attendees – including 650 students – gave the veteran theatre professional a standing ovation.
"I am humbled by this great honor," Benjamin said.
"Theatre is a collaborative art form, and I could not have accomplished all I have done if it weren't for the faculty, staff and students at USC Aiken as well as my amazing wife and family."
Benjamin came to USCA in 1986 as an assistant professor of theatre and a director of theatre. He has served as the chair of the department since 1996. In 2012, he took on the role of executive director of the Etherredge Center.
He has directed more than 70 productions since coming to the university and has directed more than 150 productions in his professional career. Prior to coming to Aiken, Benjamin taught in Dallas and served as the lighting and scenic designer for several professional theatres throughout the country. In 2002, he received the John F. Kennedy Center Medallion for his work in educational theatre.
In November 2004, he received the Founders Award from the S.C. Theatre Association. In March 2006, he received the Suzanne Davis Memorial Award for Distinguished Service from the Southeastern Theatre Conference.
He plans to retire June 2018.
Aiken Elementary names A honor roll
The following students at Aiken Elementary were named to the A honor roll for the first nine weeks Rebekah Bolton, Isabella Brown, Olivia Chavis, Justin Clermont, Christopher “CJ” Creech, Audrey Dietzel, Toan Do, Victor Espiritu, Jace Gaskins, Corinne Gelinas, Christopher Glenn, Chase Godson, Aiden Hembree, Amarion Holston, Joseph Johnson, Maddison Johnson, Dean Law, Jalen Mason, Tanner Padgett, Pitcher Schaumann, Haylee Simmons, Liya Starlings, Jadurius Valentine, Kaylee Abner, Mea Ballard, Cabot Barron, Margaret Clifford, Johnathon Collins, Arjun Contractor, Annabel Coulter, Caleb Godson, Bianca Jenkins, Chloe McKinnon, Tyler Perkins, Kingston Peterson, Elliana Smith, DaShauna Thompson, Caelin Barfield, Jacob Berry, Joanna Brown, Alina Coleman, William Erbskorn, Jack Greenwood, Samantha Herring, Benjamin Herron, Alexis Mathis, Marlon McDowell, Missael Moreno, Joseph Nwachukwu, Kolby Osborne, Ethan Sparks and Thomas Watkins.
Aiken Elementary honors As, Bs
The following students at Aiken Elementary were named to the A/B honor roll for the first nine weeks: Ashe Aase, Olivia Bateman, Abigail Bentley, Avery Broach, Max Brown, Christopher Campbell, Leevie Chandler, Amira Coleman, Colton Creswell, Chandler DeLoach, David Derrick, Zachary Duncan, Amy Estrada, Logan Finley, Josie Foster, Lilly Green, Kullen Haltiwanger, Whitney Hucks, Bri’Ahna Hunter, Janiya Jackson, Jamison Johnson, Promise Johnson, Peter King, Anndee Lewis, Ryan Mance, Brandon Orris, Solomon Pardue, Ahmed Perez, Karis Pontoo, Jenna Shaw, Katie Slack, Alaila Small, Yupar Thein, Ayanna Thomas, Layla Thornhill, Alexa Verastegui, Madisen Whittle, Andilyn Williams, Jackson Windham, Donovan Zavala-Flores, McKenzie Allison, Eli Bartlett, Ben Bateman, Jania Bell Blair, Bryona Bibbs, Ethan Blendowski, Jaxson Boone, Taitayana Bunch, Katie Burch, Caden Burlington, Addison Cartin, Irelyn Charley, Savvas Chionakis, Amanda Counts, Glenn Counts, Myracle Culbreath, Zion Davis, McCarten Drake, Kay’Dence Dunbar, Rene Estrada, Emily Eubanks, Kimberly Farrer, Jamel Ferguson, Regina Garcia, A’Niya Garrett, Julianne Good, Kaidance Hallback, Keyonna Harris, Talea Hazzard, Justice Herrin, Gina Hofstetter, Madison Holloway, Zoey Horne, James Howard, Zion Johnson, James Krol, Mikayla Ladson, Nicholas Lloyd, Brandt Marvin, Maliyah McKie, Morgan Meesseman, Brayden Milam, Jillian Nation, Riya Patel, Finley Patterson, Schamal Pringle, Natalie Reedy, Bailee Sievers, Resa Slack, Lucas Sparks, Ashley Stump, Sophia Vance-Diaz, Jaylen Walker, Brayden Weed, Harrison Williams, Ja’Niyah Williams, Lacey Backmon, Kira Bennett, Sha’Myiah Bradley, Gabriella Canionero, Lakeyshia Chinn, Molly Christensen, Ashley Craven, Carson Day, Spencer DeHart, Jailah Dicks, Carson Elmore, Emily Elmore, Mohamed Elobied, Brandon Enlund, Dylan Enlund, Grady Farrer, Colby Foster, McKenzie Gaskins, Atalie Gattis, Asia Greathouse, Payton Hall, Maia Henderson, Jenesis Hill, Lauren Hofstetter, Amad Holston, Brandon Horne, Elijah Jackson, Jasmine Jay, Lindsey Key, Cole Kring, Meghan Krisle, Langston Livingston, Kamryn Middleton, Brianna Odle, Daly Pardue, Aisha Patel, Esha Patel, Aidan Redd, Destiny Rice, Angelia Sein, Brandon Vail, Lawrence Valdez, Aaliyah Washington, Jimmy Weaver, Kayleigh Wheeler and Haley White.
