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Benedict College from Columbia, South Carolina selected to perform in 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day ParadeĀ®

NEW YORK, NY & COLUMBIA, SC ā€“ April 15, 2021ā€“ Today, Benedict College Marching Tiger Band of Distinction, was selected to perform in the 2022 Macyā€™s Thanksgiving Day ParadeĀ®, representing the state of South Carolina. This will mark the first Parade appearance by the band. The Benedict College Marching Tiger Band of Distinction will join the celebration at the call of ā€œLetā€™s Have a Paradeā„¢,ā€ the iconic phrase that has signaled the start of the beloved annual holiday tradition since 1924.

Each year, the Macyā€™s Parade Band Committee looks for bands that have the stage presence and musical expertise to captivate the streets of New York City and millions of viewers across the country. Benedict College Marching Tiger Band of Distinction was selected from more than 100 applicants as one of nine selected bands to march in the 96th edition of the annual holiday spectacle. The band will join the revelry along with other iconic Macyā€™s staples: floats, giant character balloons, clowns and superstar performers galore, helping to create an unforgettable experience for millions.

ā€œEnergetic, exciting and entertaining – these words perfectly describe the Benedict College Marching Tiger Band of Distinction and the incredible sound and spirit they deliver at every single performance,ā€ said Wesley Whatley, creative producer, Macyā€™s Thanksgiving Day Parade. ā€œMacyā€™s is so proud to introduce this incredible group to our Parade audience on Thanksgiving morning for their big debut!ā€

ā€œThe Macyā€™s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a quintessential holiday tradition,ā€ said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. ā€œI can think of no better way to showcase the showmanship, talent and precision of the Benedict College Tiger Band of Distinction than to watch them march down the streets of New York City on Thanksgiving Day!ā€

Benedict College Marching Tiger Band of Distinction will spend the next 18 months planning for their Parade appearance. Rehearsals and creative fundraising events will not only bring the school and local community closer together but also prepare the students for the march of a lifetime. To help kick-start the bandā€™s fundraising goal, Macyā€™s has made a $10,000 donation in support of their march towards the Big Apple.

For more than ninety years, Macyā€™s Thanksgiving Day Parade has given thanks to what Macyā€™s values most ā€“- its loyal fans. More than 5,000 Macyā€™s employees and dedicated volunteers work tirelessly to create a spectacular event that entertains the cheerful crowds and provides joy to millions at home watching on Thanksgiving Day. Stretching down a more than two-mile-long route in New York City, the spectacle is alive with gleaming color, music and smiles.

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About the Macyā€™s Thanksgiving Day Parade:

For more than 90 years, the Macyā€™s Thanksgiving Day Parade has marked the official start of the holiday season. With more than 50 million viewers nationwide on television and online, the Macyā€™s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a national icon that has grown into a world-famous holiday event. Featuring Macyā€™s signature giant character balloons, fantasy floats, marching bands, clowns, celebrity and large group performances, and the one-and-only Santa Claus, the annual spectacle continues to bring families together to create cherished holiday memories. For more information on the Macyā€™s Parade please visit www.macys.com/parade. (NYSE: M)

About Benedict College:

Foundedā€Æinā€Æ1870ā€Æbyā€Æaā€Æwoman,ā€ÆBathshebaā€ÆA.ā€ÆBenedict,Ā Benedictā€ÆCollegeā€Æisā€Æaā€Æprivateā€Æco-educationalā€Æliberal arts institution, offering 25 competitive baccalaureate degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from all 46 counties in South Carolina, 30 states across America, and 26 countries around theā€Æworld.Ā 

Benedict offers several high-demand fields of study in STEM, Cyber Security, Mass Communication, Sport Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Computer Science, Biology, and Education. The College also has a diverse faculty and importantly, 80 percent of courses are taught by full-time faculty.Ā 

Over the past ten years, three out of five Benedict College graduates have attended professional or graduate schools. There are over 18,000 proud Benedict Tigers throughout the nation.Ā Benedict College has been a community leader for over 150-years and is a significant contributor to South CarolinaĀ and the region. Contributing $130 million and 1,218 jobs in total local and annual economic impact, a Benedict graduate working full-time throughout his or her working life can expect to earn $1.1 million in additional income because of their Benedict College degree.Ā 

The College made front-pageā€Ænews in theā€Æspring of 2018 when it became the first South Carolina college to lower its tuition by 26 percent. Cutting tuition drew praise from the Commission onā€ÆHigher Education, South Carolinaā€™s education oversight body. The commissioner noted that theĀ move Benedict College made should be applauded because it offersĀ families affordability andĀ studentsĀ greaterĀ access to higher education.Ā 

Benedict College has been highly regarded and exceptionally ranked for itsĀ programs by several academic and traditional publications.ā€Æ For example, Benedict College was ranked as oneā€Æof the top baccalaureate colleges in the nation byĀ Washington MonthlyĀ magazine for creating social mobility andĀ producing cutting-edge scholarship and research.ā€Æ Inā€Æ2019,ā€ÆBenedictā€ÆCollege receivedā€Ætheā€Æ2019 ACE/ Fidelity Investments Awards for Institutional TransformationĀ and was named theĀ HBCU of theā€ÆYearā€ÆbyĀ HBCUā€ÆDigest. Learn more about the benefits of choosing an HBCU.

Benedict College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate andā€Æmasterā€™sĀ degrees.Ā Fiveā€Æof the Collegeā€™s degree programs hold national accreditation: The School of Education, Socialā€ÆWork Program,ā€ÆEnvironmental Health Science Program, Studio Art Program, and the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.Ā 

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