The Eleventh Annual Wilkins Awards Dinner
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
January 12, 2016
Held on the first night of the legislative session each year and attended by political, community, and business leaders, the Wilkins Awards Dinner promotes citizenship, public service, and bipartisan governing. Each year we honor the leadership, courage, vision, and integrity of one South Carolina legislator and, this year, two South Carolina civic leaders. View this year’s program | Read Furman’s news release | Read the Greenville Journal article | Read the LowcountrybizSC article
Senator Clementa Pinckney
2015 Wilkins Award for Excellence in Legislative Leadership
First elected to the legislature at age 23, Senator Pinckney served with empathy for opposing views while firmly presenting his own views until his assassination at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church on June 17, 2015. His widow, Mrs. Jennifer Pinckney, accepted the award, along with her daughters, Eliana and Melana.
Governor Nikki Haley and Mayor Joe Riley
2015 Wilkins Award for Excellence in Civic Leadership
In the wake of the shooting of nine worshippers at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Governor Haley and Mayor Riley demonstrated unselfish, decisive, and critical leadership during a time of enormous grief and angst in South Carolina. Their responses to this tragedy have helped bring healing to our state.
The evening was hosted by Ambassador David Wilkins, Secretary Dick Riley, and Furman President Elizabeth Davis. Along with dinner, there was a video of a moderated conversation with our civic award winners, Gov. Haley and Mayor Riley, about their response and actions following the massacre at Emanuel A.M.E. Church.
Many thanks to our generous sponsors of the eleventh annual Wilkins Awards Dinner:
Silver Level
Bronze Level
Table Sponsor
- AT&T
- The Ballentine Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
- BMW Manufacturing Company
- Charleston School of Law
- Clemson University
- Denny’s
- The Duke Endowment
- Duke Energy
- Michelin North America
- MidlandsBizSC
- Municipal Association of South Carolina
- Palmetto Health
- Piedmont Natural Gas
- Santee Cooper
- South Carolina Hospital Association
- South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA)
- Spartanburg Regional
- University of South Carolina
Our great thanks to these Sustaining Sponsors, who support the work of the Riley Institute throughout the year:
Sustaining Sponsors
- BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- The Duke Endowment
- Duke Energy
- Greenville Health System
- Dick Riley
- The Sanders Family Foundation
- Sylvan Laureate Foundation
- Total Wine & More
- Lindsay and Billy Webster