Media gallery

The Fourteenth Annual Wilkins Awards Dinner

Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

January 8, 2019

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


Senator John W. Matthews, Jr. (D-Orangeburg)

2018 David H. Wilkins Award for Excellence in Legislative Leadership

The longest serving African American S.C. state legislator, Senator Matthews is known for his willingness to work with others across the aisle to support progress in education, healthcare and economic development, and he is held in the highest regard by his fellow members of the General Assembly. Currently, he serves on seven Senate committees: Agriculture and Natural Resources; Banking and Insurance; Corrections and Penology; Education; Ethics; Finance; and Interstate Cooperation.

 


Charlotte Berry, chair of Volunteers of the American Red Cross of Columbia

2018 David H. Wilkins Award for Excellence in Civic Leadership

As national chair of Volunteers of the American Red Cross, as a founding member of Women in Philanthropy, and through service on numerous boards of community organizations, Charlotte has championed the displaced, disenfranchised, and disaffected. Charlotte believes strongly in the importance and efficacy of collaboration, and she has spent a lifetime working with others in service to her community.