Wishing Craig the best!

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - WIS News 10 Anchor Craig Melvin will be leaving the station to take a local news anchor job in Washington, DC.

Craig has been with WIS for more than seven years, winning many awards and stepping away from the anchor desk to report first-hand on issues of importance to viewers in the Midlands.

Craig first appeared on WIS while still a student at Columbia High School.  In 1996, he won an Associated Press award for a story on innovative teaching.  He was one of the youngest ever to win such an award.  After graduation from Wofford College, Craig came back to WIS as the featured reporter on the morning newscasts, and became well-known for his roving "Craig Cam" live segments.

Craig moved up through the ranks quickly, and eventually shared the anchor desk with legendary WIS anchor Susan Aude'.  While his main job is anchoring the 5, 6, and 11pm news, Craig also takes on many assignments as a field reporter.  He traveled to Germany to tell the story of our wounded warriors.  He's done extensive reporting on education in South Carolina, Columbia's homeless, and gangs in the Midlands.  Craig has also faced danger, finding himself one night at the center of a prison hostage standoff.

Craig's many honors include a 2006 regional Emmy as best news anchor in the Southeast, and he shared in the regional Emmys won by WIS in 2003 and 2005 for best newscast.  In 2007, the South Carolina Broadcasters Association named him best anchor in South Carolina.  Craig spends much of his free time mentoring young people and working with several charities.  He's a member of the board of the South Carolina Philharmonic, Hootie and the Blowfish Monday after the Masters Tournament, and Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

While he admits that leaving his hometown will be difficult, Craig is looking forward to the challenges ahead.  "Ninety percent of my family and close friends are here. So I'll be back often. My family is right up the street," he said. Craig will be anchoring newscasts at WRC, the NBC affiliate in the nation's capital.

Craig's old teachers have some kind departing words for him which paint a bright future ahead.

"There's one thing I'm sure of -- Craig will hold office one day, Craig will come back to South Carolina and he will run for something and we will vote for him because he is this state," Craig's social studies teacher Mike Fanning said.

"I don't think we've seen the best of Craig yet, he's so young and he's so aggressive and he's so determined to do what he thinks need to be done, I think big things are in store for him," Jeanette Dozier, Craig's algebra teacher said.

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