James Benson Receives UMO Young Alumni Award
November 24, 2025
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
MOUNT OLIVE, NC – James Benson of Grantham has been named the 2025 recipient of the Young Alumni Award by the University of Mount Olive (UMO). The award was presented during the Annual Alumni Awards Ceremony, a highlight of the University’s Homecoming Weekend.
Born on Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC, on November 8, 1984, Benson’s journey has been marked by service, resilience, and creativity. A 2003 graduate of Charles B. Aycock High School, he entered the U.S. Air Force, where he served as an HVAC/R technician and completed one deployment while stationed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. Seeking new challenges, Benson later joined the U.S. Army as a Heavy Wheeled Motor Transport Operator. His service included assignments at Fort Campbell, KY, and Fort Carson, CO, along with four additional combat deployments. In total, Benson dedicated 10 years to military service, completing five deployments in defense of his country.
After his military career, Benson lived in Washington State before returning home to North Carolina. He enrolled at UMO, where he pursued his passion for visual storytelling, earning a Bachelor of Arts in photography in 2021. Today, he serves as Imaging Supervisor and Product Photographer at Worldwide Golf Shops, where he leads a small team that specializes in capturing product photography for brands such as Titleist.
Beyond his professional work, Benson contributes his time and talents to various charities, his church, and his alma mater. On any given weekend, he can often be spotted on the sidelines at UMO athletic events, camera in hand, capturing the energy and spirit of Trojan Nation. He also owns and operates Benson Photography NC, a business that allows him to further share his gift for photography with the community.
Benson lives in Grantham with his wife, Betsy, and their menagerie of pets, including dogs, cats, ducks, and chickens. He credits his faith for guiding his path. “I thank God for my many blessings and my Savior, Jesus Christ, for His sacrifice and goodness,” he said.
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. It was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
