2018 Wilkins Legislative and Civic Awards Dinner

Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden Jr. (USMC-Ret.) speaking with the media

The Wilkins Awards

The Wilkins Awards and award winners (l-r) Charles Bolden and Wes Newton

2008 Award Winner Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter speaking with a guest

Charles Bolden meeting Wes Newton's son

Secretary Riley speaking with Charles Bolden

Betty Farr and Secretary Riley with Charles Bolden

Thomas Hudson speaking with a guest

Tiggeron Wells, Municipal Association of SC, speaking with guests

Charles Davis speaking with Chirinjev Peterson and Tom Evelyn

Thomas Hudson, Conni Pedersen and guests

Mary Kate Mackie and guests

Charles Bolden

Wes Newton

2007 Award Winner Senator Hugh Leatherman with Secretary Riley. In the background are Ted Riley and Betty Farr.

Ted Riley (c)

2011 Civic Award Winner Ed Sellers (c)

2010 Civic Award Winner Minor Mickel Shaw (c)

Roger Kirby, S.C. House of Representatives

2010 Award Winner Senator Wes Hayes

2014 Award Winner Speaker of the SC House Jay Lucas with Paula Harper Bethea

Minor Mickel Shaw, Secretary Riley and Ed Sellers

William Herbkersman, S.C. House of Representatives, with Wes Newton and his son

Paula Harper Bethea with a guest

Mark Quinn and Secretary Riley

David Wilkins with guests

Advance Team member Elizabeth Campbell

2016 Award Winner Representative Rita Allison and Paula Harper Bethea

Jay Lucas and Hugh Leatherwood (forefront), and Rita Allison and Paula Harper Bethea (background)

Advance Team member Noah Zimmerman and Secretary Riley

David Wilkins speaking with Wes Hayes

Elizabeth and Charles Davis with Charles Bolden

Furman's Bell Tower Boys singing "The Star-Spangled Banner"

Furman's Bell Tower Boys

Elizabeth Davis

Rev. Susan Leonard-Ray, Anderson District Superintendent, The United Methodist Church, giving the invocation

Paula Harper Bethea, chair, Wilkins Steering Committee, commenting about the awards

David Wilkins, former U.S. Ambassador to Canada, and Speaker, SC House of Representatives

David Wilkins presenting the Legislative Leadership Award

David Wilkins

David Wilkins and Representative Weston Newton

David Wilkins congratulating Wes!

David Wilkins and Wes Newton

Wes Newton making remarks

Wes Newton

Wes Newton

Wes Newton

Minor Mickel Shaw, President of MICCO, LLC and inaugural winner of the Wilkins Civic Leadership Award

Minor Mickel Shaw presenting the Civic Leadership Award to Charles Bolden

Minor Mickel Shaw and Charles Bolden

Charles Bolden making remarks

Charles Bolden

(l-r) Paula Harper Bethea, Minor Mickel Shaw, Secretary Riley, Charles Bolden, Wes Newton, David Wilkins and Elizabeth Davis

Congratulations to the 2017 award winners as well as the past award winners!

The Riley Institute Advance Team with Wes Newton, Secretary Riley, David Wilkins, Gov McMaster, Charles Bolden and Elizabeth Davis

Charles Bolden and his family with Secretary Riley and Betty Farr

The Riley Institute Advance Team and Gov McMaster

The Thirteenth Annual Wilkins Awards Dinner

Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

January 9, 2018

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. The Wilkins Awards are named for former Speaker of the S.C. House of Representatives and Ambassador to Canada, David H. Wilkins and honor the leadership, courage, vision, and integrity of one South Carolina legislator and one South Carolina civic leader. View this year’s program | Read Furman’s news release

Rep. Weston Newton

2017 Wilkins Award for Legislative Leadership

He was elected to the S.C. House of Representatives in 2013 and is known for working across the aisle on legislation that improves the lives of South Carolinians. He is the chairman of the Legislative Oversight Committee and also serves on the Judiciary Committee.

Maj. Gen. Charles F. Bolden Jr., 12th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

2017 Wilkins Award for Civic Leadership

He served as the 12th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under President Obama. Born and raised in Columbia, Bolden was an astronaut and naval aviator. He retired from the Marine Corps in 2003, and his many military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in May 2006.