Benedict College receives the Federal Trademark of the popular hashtag that has come to define the 152-year-old private HBCU
Columbia, SC, August 23, 2023, Benedict College now has the registered certificate for the trademark phrase “#TheBESTofBC.” The popular hashtag that has been used by the College for the past six years. The modern term has come to define the 152-year private Historically Black College. The hashtag will now bear an encircled “R” as an insignia for “Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.”
“#TheBESTofBC is more than a tagline at Benedict College. It is a rallying cry for excellence in every area of the institution. It is a challenge to our students to always do their best, give their best and strive to be the best version of themselves,” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. “By acquiring the trademark to the phrase, we are sending a very clear signal that we are committed to achieving at the highest levels and that the word “BEST” is synonymous with Benedict College.”
The phrase was first used in 2017 with the arrival of Dr. Artis who created the term. Fast-forward to 2023 and #TheBESTof BC appears in various College-related media, publications, advertisements, marketing material, and on various clothing such as hats, hoodies, tee shirts, and sweatshirts for sale in the College’s Marketplace located on the corner of Laurel and Oak Street on the campus of Benedict College.
Individuals and businesses who want to use any of the Benedict College marks including the name, the seal, tiger logo, or hashtag must apply for a yearly license. The licensing agreement and the trademark policy is on the College’s website on the Office of Communications and Marketing page. The trademark and licensing program is designed to protect the integrity of the College’s identity, brand, and reputation. All employees and students along with outside vendors, must work with a representative of the College to create branded apparel or other merchandise with any Benedict marks, name, or hashtag.
Featured Photo – Modeling one of #TheBESTofBC tee shirts is Autumn Tisdale, a junior from Atlanta, Georgia. Autumn is a Social Work major who serves as the Student Government Association’s Corresponding Secretary.
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About Benedict College (benedict.edu)
Founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution offering 26 competitive baccalaureate degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from all 46 counties in South Carolina, 30 states across America, and 26 countries around the world. The College also has a diverse faculty; more importantly, 80 percent of courses are taught by full-time faculty.
Benedict College has been highly regarded and exceptionally ranked for its programs by several academic and traditional publications. 2019 Benedict College received the 2019 ACE/ Fidelity Investments Awards for Institutional Transformation and was named the HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest. Benedict College was listed among the top half of ranked HBCUs in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges by US News and World Report.
Benedict College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Six of the College’s degree programs hold national accreditation: The School of Education, Social Work Program, Environmental Health Science Program, Environmental Engineering Program, Studio Art Program, and the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
