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Tempe, AZ – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (“ITA”) is delighted to announce today the selection of David H. Wilkins as the recipient of the 2025 ITA David A Benjamin Achievement Award. Now in the award’s 31st year, Wilkins will be celebrated in New York on Saturday, August 23 as part of the ITA Leadership Awards Weekend, presented by Limoneira.
As one of the most prestigious awards a former college tennis player can be honored with, the ITA David A Benjamin Achievement Award has paid tribute to past participants in the world of varsity tennis who have achieved excellence in their chosen careers. The award honors both professional success and contributions to society made either as a result of a career or through humanitarian efforts. Endowed by Margie and Stan Smith in 2015, the ITA Achievement Award was named in honor of the long-serving Executive Director and ITA Chairman of the Board, Dr. David A Benjamin.
“David H. Wilkins has exemplified what it means to achieve excellence both on and off the tennis court,” stated ITA CEO David Mullins. “His remarkable career—spanning law, politics, and diplomacy—has not only made 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 Achievement Award, recognizing his dedication to service and leadership.”
Graduating from Clemson University cum laude in 1968, Wilkins enjoyed a decorated college tennis career in which he was a three-year starter in singles and doubles and was captain of the team his junior year. He won the No. 2 Doubles Championship at the ACC Tournament in 1966, then the ACC No. 6 Singles Title in 1967. Wilkins was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll both his junior and senior years. Upon graduation, Wilkins earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina in 1971. He served as a first lieutenant in the United States Army and US Army Reserves in the early 1970s.
Beginning his political career in 1980, Wilkins served 25 years as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, including 11 years as Speaker of the House. Wilkins was the first Republican to be elected Speaker of any legislative body in the South since the 1870’s. Wilkins is the third-longest serving Speaker in South Carolina history.
In April 2005, President George W. Bush nominated Wilkins to serve as US Ambassador to Canada. Wilkins was unanimously confirmed by the US Senate and in June 2005 he became the 21st United States Ambassador to Canada. Representing the United States as Ambassador was the privilege of a lifetime for Wilkins. He and his wife travelled extensively throughout Canada from coast to coast constantly working to strengthen the ties that bind our two countries.
In January 2009, at the end of President Bush’s second term, Wilkins’ post as US Ambassador concluded. He then became a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP where he focuses primarily on both sides of the US-Canada border and offers experience on a wide range of strategic bilateral issues.
Throughout his career, Wilkins has received numerous awards including the 2004 Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award, honorary degrees from numerous universities, President of the National Speakers’ Conference and the Order of the Palmetto, the State of South Carolina’s highest civic honor.
Appointed by President Bush, Wilkins served on the Board of Visitors of the US Military Academy at West Point from 2002-2005. In 2014, the plaza at Clemson’s University’s tennis complex was named in Wilkins’ honor. In 2021, Wilkins was honored by his alma mater with the Bond Distinguished Athletes Award, which honors Clemson student-athletes who have continued their success years after graduation. In addition to several corporate boards, in 2007 Wilkins was elected to the Clemson University Board of Trustees and served as chairman of the board for six years. He continues to serve on the board as a Trustee Emeritus.
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 supporting many charitable and civic organizations.
ITA Chairman Emeritus, Dr. David A Benjamin contributed, “The ITA is privileged to honor Ambassador Wilkins for his wide-ranging and exceptional accomplishments in the world of law, politics, international relations, and humanitarian endeavors.”
“I am most grateful and deeply honored to receive this prestigious ITA Achievement Award named for the legendary David A Benjamin,” noted 2025 Achievement Award Recipient, David H. Wilkins. “The wonderful sport of tennis has given me countless gifts and has had a dramatic influence on my life. Playing tennis at Clemson University taught me valuable life lessons and developed transferable skills that helped me be successful throughout my life. Skills, such as teamwork, dealing 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.”
Wilkins continued, “It was my teammates and coaches who truly inspired me during my collegiate tennis playing days and their belief in me pushed me to play better, to be better. My tennis journey continued well after college and enabled me to share this great game with my two sons and grandson creating lasting memories that will pass from generation to generation.”
About the ITA David A Benjamin Achievement Award: The ITA David A Benjamin Achievement Award pays tribute each year to past participants in the world of varsity tennis who have achieved excellence in their chosen careers. The spirit of the award honors both professional success and contributions to society, made either as a direct result of a career, or through humanitarian efforts. In 2015, Margie and Stan Smith endowed the ITA Achievement Award in honor of Benjamin.
About the ITA: The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is the governing body and coaches association of college tennis, both an advocate and an authority for the sport and its members. Comprising 1,260 colleges and universities, 20,000 student-athletes, 1,700 varsity programs, 3,000 coaches, and 1,350 college tennis officials, the ITA empowers college tennis coaches at all levels to deliver vibrant tennis programs that are vital to their college communities and transformational to their student-athletes. Follow the college tennis season on the ITA website and ITA social channels on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
