Tempe, the – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (“ITA”) is pleased to announce the selection of David H. Wilkins today as a recipient of the 2025 ITA David a Benjamin Achievement Award. Now in the 31st year of the prize, Wilkins is celebrated in New York on Saturday 23 August as part of the ITA Leadership Awards Weekend, presented by Limoneira.
As one of the most prestigious prizes with which a former lecture -tennis player can be honored, the ITA David a Benjamin Achievement Award has paid a tribute to earlier participants in the world of Varsity Tennis who have reached Excellency in their chosen careers. The prize honors both professional success and contributions to society, delivered as a result of a career or through humanitarian efforts. Effective by Margie and Stan Smith in 2015, the ITA Achievement Award was mentioned in honor of the long-term executive director and ITA chairman of the board, Dr. ir. David a Benjamin.
“David H. Wilkins has illustrated what it means to achieve excellence, both on and outside the tennis court,” said Ita CEO David Mullins. “His remarkable career voltage law, politics and diplomacy-has not only had a profound impact in his community, but will also serve as a powerful example for future generations of student athletes. The ITA is proud to honor David with the 2025 David A. Benjamin Award Award, recognized by service and service.”
Wilkins graduated in 1968 from the Clemson University Cum Laude and enjoyed a decorated college tennis career in which he was a three-year-old starter in Singles and Doubles and his captain of the team was his junior year. He won the number 2 Doubles Championship at the ACC tournament in 1966, then the ACC No. 6 Singles title in 1967. Wilkins was named the Accadic Honor Roll, both his junior and senior years. After graduating, Wilkins obtained his rights diploma at the University of South Carolina in 1971. He was the first lieutenant in the US Army and US Army reserves in the early 1970s.
Starting with his political career in 1980, Wilkins served for 25 years as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, including 11 years as chairman of the house. Wilkins was the first Republican to have been chosen a chairman of a legislative body in the South since the 1870s. Wilkins is the third longest serving speaker in the history of South Carolina.
In April 2005, President George W. Bush Wilkins nominated to serve as an American ambassador in Canada. Wilkins was unanimously confirmed by the US Senate and in June 2005 he became the 21st ambassador of the United States in Canada. Representing the United States as an ambassador was the privilege of your life for Wilkins. He and his wife traveled extensively through Canada from coast to coast and constantly worked to strengthen the ties that bind our two countries.
In January 2009, at the end of President Bush’s second term, Wilkins concluded as the American ambassador. He then became a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, where he mainly focuses on both sides of the border between the US and Canada and offers experience on a wide range of strategic bilateral issues.
During his career, Wilkins received countless prizes, including the 2004 Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award, honorary doctorate of numerous universities, president of the National Speakers’ Conference and the Order of the Palmetto, the state of South Carolina’s highest bourgeois honor.
Wilkins appointed by President Bush, was a member of the board of visitors to the American military academy in West Point from 2002-2005. In 2014, the Plaza was mentioned at the Tennis Complex of Clemson’s University in honor of Wilkins. In 2021, Wilkins was honored by his Alma Mater with the Bond Distingughed Athletes Award, who honors Clemson student athletes who have continued their success years after graduation. In addition to various operating councils in 2007, the Clemson University Board of Trustees were chosen in 2007 and was chairman of the board of directors for six years. He continues to serve on the board as an emeritus from Trustee.
David and his wife Susan live in Greenville, South Carolina and have two married sons and four grandchildren. They are very active in their community that support many charity and social organizations.
ITA chairman Emeritus, Dr. David a Benjamin has contributed: “The ITA has the privilege of honoring ambassador Wilkins for his broad and exceptional achievements in the world of law, politics, international relations and humanitarian efforts.”
“I am very grateful and deeply honored to receive this prestigious ITA Achievement Award, named after the legendary David a Benjamin,” 2025 Achievement Award receiver noted, David H. Wilkins. “The Wonderful Sport of tennis has given me countless gifts and has a dramatic influence on my life. Playing tennis at Clemson University taught me valuable life lessons and developed transferable skills that helped me be aspirful thraling, successful thraling, successful thraling, successful thrum, ascessful, as a successful thrum, sevenlyws, successful thrals, ascessful, bevercessful workful, as Successfulws. With Success and Failure, Time Management, Discipline, Resilience and Mental Toughness, Were Honed and Refined During My Four Years of Playing Tennis For Clemson University. ”
Wilkin’s continued: “It was my teammates and coaches who really inspired me during my collegial tennis day and their faith in me pushed me to play better, to be better. My tennis trip went well after the university and enabled me to share this great game with my two sons and grandson who will make lasting memories that will go from generation to generation.” “
About the Ita David a Benjamin Achievement Award: The ITA David a Benjamin Achievement Award brings a tribute every year to earlier participants in the world of Varsity Tennis who have reached excellence in their chosen career. The spirit of the prize honors both professional success and contributions to society, delivered as a direct consequence of a career or through humanitarian efforts. In 2015, Margie and Stan Smith de Ita Achievement Award in honor of Benjamin.
About Ita: The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is the administrative body and coaches Association of College Tennis, both a lawyer and an authority for sport and its members. Consisting of 1,260 colleges and universities, 20,000 student athletes, 1,700 Varsity programs, 3,000 coaches and 1,350 college tennis officers, the ITA authorizes college tennis coaches at all levels to deliver lively tennis programs that are vital to their university communities and transformation. Follow the university’s tennis season on the ITA website and Ita Social Channels Twitter” Instagram” LinkedIn” FacebookAnd YouTube.
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