SC State Bulldog excellence on display during 2026 Legislative Day

We need to shed light on the great things that’re going on" — SC State senior Savion Bouknight.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Alumni and students were among the supporters of South Carolina State University who flooded the halls of the State House on Wednesday.

Students and alumni stood in solidarity to promote the role of their beloved university in advancing education, workforce development and service in the state during 2026 Legislative Day.

“It’s very important to advocate for South Carolina State. There’s a lot of great things that are happening at South Carolina State,” student Savion Bouknight said.

The 21-year-old SC State senior elementary education major is also vice president of the university’s Call Me MiSTER cohort, a national program through which the university is leading the way in recruiting and training teachers for South Carolina classrooms.

“We have a lot of representatives whether that’s from Call Me MiSTER or the Honors College showing how great and excellent South Carolina State is as a university at the State House on Legislative Day,” Bouknight said.

“We need to shed light on the great things that’re going on. So that’s why it’s very important for us to be here,” he said.

Bouknight said he is delighted that the university is seeking heightened security measures in the aftermath of a Feb. 12 shooting incident, including with security screening and identification measures for visiting guests.

“They’re trying, and I like seeing the improvement. As long as we see improvement, I think that’s something that we can be appreciative of,” he said.

Khristian Sprinkle, a SC State junior music education major from Orangeburg, is also among the members of the Call Me MiSTER Program who attended Wednesday’s event.

“I expected to see the university stand together after recent events and know that we can get through anything and get through tough times,” the 20-year-old said.

SC State Honors College students India Wilkes and Habenoim Woldabyezgi also attended Legislative Day.

Wilkes said she is confident SC State President Alexander Conyers is working to ensure student safety as the university continues working to be a beacon of academic excellence.

“I feel pretty safe on my campus. I feel as if President Conyers is doing everything in his power to better our security and that he’s doing well so far,” the 20-year-old sophomore biology major said.

 Woldabyezgi, a 19-year-old sophomore psychology major from Las Vegas, Nevada, said he is pleased that the university has held meetings with students regarding its campus security.

He said Legislative Day also provided him with an opportunity to learn more about how state government and its laws work. 

Woldabyezgi said he appreciates how the university has welcomed him into the Bulldog family.

“South Carolina State University is not the only school to offer me a scholarship, but they were one of the first to genuinely welcome and embrace me despite my differences,” he said.

Columbia resident Dian Alston, a 1981 SC State graduate, was among the alumni who turned out in support of SC State on Wednesday.

“We love South Carolina State, and we want the public to know that we have confidence in our school no matter what. But on the flip side of that, we also need to see those consistent (security) measures in place,” Alston said.

“I know that the president and his cabinet and everyone at the university are working to put those measures in place,” she said.

Legislators speak on promoting university, its mission

Rep. Bill Taylor (District 86), who serves on the Higher Education Subcommittee within the S.C. House Education & Public Works Committee, said the university’s request for additional funding to enhance security is warranted.

“One of the budget requests for $8 million has been to increase that security with a police station and just more personnel for security, etc. I am highly supportive of that,” Taylor said.

“SC State has had numerous outlays of state money to build buildings over the last several years, but, to me, the highest priority this year is to make sure that the security on campus is at its highest level,” he said.

Rep. Hamilton Grant (District 79), an SC State alumnus, said college campus violence is part of a national problem, particularly across the state with campuses coming under fire, more access to weapons and open carry laws. 

“I think this is indicative of that, and I think people are starting to exploit that. What I would like to see from the university is a more holistic approach to safety.”

Sen. Deon Tedder (District 42), another SC State alumnus, said, “We know that funding is an issue. It always has been an issue. I commend the president and the board of trustees on their quick rollout of an updated security plan.” 

“We have to focus on who is on the campus, making sure that the students are safe, first of all, and that also we have some kind of requirements for nonstudent guests,” the legislator said.

Rep. Jerry Govan (District 93), an SC State alum and ordained minister, said, “About 30-plus of us ministers met with President Conyers on Tuesday night on campus. We had prayer and met with them. I feel that under his leadership, this situation is going to be addressed.”