Each fall, the Winthrop Alumni Association presents Alumni Awards to alumni who have
demonstrated Winthrop's tradition of excellence. The Honors and Awards Committee of
the Alumni Executive Board reviews nominations and selects winners annually for the Alumni Distinguished Service
Award, Alumni Professional Achievement Award and Outstanding Young Alumni Award. An
internal committee of Winthrop staff selects the recipients for the Mary Mildred Sullivan
Award and Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.
The 2024 Alumni Award recipients will be recognized at the Alumni Awards Celebration
on Thursday, Nov. 7 in Richardson Ballroom on Winthrop's campus. The Alumni Awards
Celebration is sponsored by Founders Federal Credit Union, the official credit union of Winthrop Athletics.
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Mary Mildred Sullivan Awards are the only national collegiate service awards. They have been presented since 1890 by the Sullivan Foundation to college students, faculty, staff, alumni and civic leaders who have distinguished themselves through service to others and their communities. The Sullivan Awards are the highest honor the Winthrop Alumni Association can bestow upon a graduate.
The male equivalent of the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award. This award recognizes a Winthrop alumnus for selfless dedication of time, energy, and talent in service to Winthrop and others.
Mrs. Glenda Pittman Owens, Class of 1959
Charleston, South Carolina
Established in 1940, the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award recognizes a Winthrop alumna
for selfless dedication of time, energy and talent in service to others.
Dr. J. Edward Lee, Class of 1983
York, South Carolina
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award recognizes a Winthrop alumnus for selfless dedication of time, energy and talent in service to others.
Mrs. Erin Duffy Patel, Classes of 2007 & 2009
Fort Mill, South Carolina
The Alumni Distinguished Service Award recognizes a Winthrop alumna/us who significantly contributes to the quality of life in his or her community, the development of values and morals within others and serves as an outstanding citizen.
The Honorable DeAndrea Gist Benjamin, Class of 1994
Columbia, South Carolina
The Alumni Professional Achievement Award is presented to an alumna/us who has made
significant contributions to his or her professional field while exemplifying high
moral and business ethics.
Mr. Jeff Robinson, Classes of 2014 & 2020
Inman, South Carolina
The Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes a Winthrop alumna/us age 35 or younger whose service to the university, service to the community and professional achievements have reflected positively on all alumni and the university.
2023 Recipients
2022 Recipients
2021 Recipients
2020 Recipients
2019 Recipients
2018 Recipients
2017 Recipients