progress; and the support of my loving family,” said Congressman Clyburn.
“I am immensely grateful to President Biden for this incredible honor and take seriously the responsibility it carries. While it serves as a recognition of one’s accomplishments, it is also an astute
teer of the Year Award. He has also received recognition and awards for his participation in after-school programs that teach first aid and mentor youth in the Columbia area. Chief Aubrey Jenkins is a recipient of the Columbia Urban League’s Lincoln C. Jenkins Jr. Award and has been named South Carolina Public Safety Officer of the Year. Additionally, he was presented with a Life Saver Award from the City of Columbia for rescuing a baby from a burning building.
Among his most significant accomplishments was achieving the Class 1 ISO rating for CFD, the highest rating for local fire protection efforts based on ISO’s fire suppression rating schedule. He is the first and only fire chief in the Columbia Fire Department’s history to achieve this milestone. Currently, Chief Jenkins serves as the co-chairman of the City of Columbia Grievance Committee and is certified as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) instructor, a South Carolina Fire Academy instructor, and an American Red Cross first aid instructor.
Outside of work, Chief Jenkins is a member of the Progressive Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, where he serves as a deacon and past chairman of the brotherhood department. He and his wife, Vernell Trapp Jenkins, have two sons, Emanuel and Sheldon.
reminder of the challenges that lie ahead. It speaks to the duty each and every one of us has to further the founding fathers’ dream of a ‘more perfect union.’ I accept this award with deep humility and the promise to uphold this vision,” he continued.
“I reflect upon the moment I was elected president of my NAACP Youth Council in Sumter, South Carolina, at the age of 12. From leading student protests in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to marshaling majorities to pass consequential legislation in Congress, I have learned that we all have roles to play in making the greatness of this democracy accessible for everyone,” he explained. “I look forward to continuing my efforts to bend the arc of history towards justice and proving myself worthy of this incredible honor.”
