Hartsville, SC — Family and friends of late Cobras outfielder Benji Newton Blanton ’97 have established an endowed scholarship in his memory. It is the first endowed scholarship for athletics at Coker. Blanton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Coker, passed away on November 18, 2002.

“The scholarship happened a year within Benji's death which is a tribute to the people he touched,” said Cobras baseball coach Dave Schmotzer. “It's a tribute to his family, friends at Coker, and all the people he came into contact with in his life. Benji will always be with us, and will never be that far away from our Coker baseball day dreams. He was an inspiration to all of us.”

The Benji Newton Blanton Endowed Scholarship is to be awarded to a full-time student at Coker who is a South Carolina baseball player in need of financial assistance. The award is to be given for one academic year, and if the recipient wants to renew the scholarship then he or she must exhibit serious attention to his or her course of studies.

Following his collegiate baseball career, Blanton played C&B baseball and HTC softball and umpired for the Green Sea and Loris leagues. He is is survived by his parents, Randy and Gail Blanton of Green Sea; his paternal grandparents, Waldo and Marjorie Blanton of Nichols; and his sister, Jill Blanton of Green Sea.