Alumni and Friends,
Nominations for the 2025 Alumni Awards will be accepted through Monday, March 31. 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. Submit a nomination for a fellow alumnus!
March is National Reading Month, so here's a great selection for you, courtesy of the Virtual Alumni Book Club: "The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony" by Annabelle Tometich. A poignant and deceptively entertaining memoir of growing up as a mixed-race Filipina “nobody” in suburban Florida, Annabelle traces the roots of her upbringing—all the while reckoning with her erratic father’s untimely death in a Fort Myers motel, her fiery mother’s bitter yearning for the country she left behind, and her own journey in the pursuit of belonging. The reading period is through May 16. Click here to read a summary and reviews for it. Join the free Virtual Alumni Book Club by signing up at www.pbc.guru/winthrop.
Event registration closes on Friday, March 28, for Black Alumni Weekend, so please be sure to register! All alumni are invited to come home to Winthrop from April 10-12 to celebrate. Registration is required for each event. For questions, e-mail alumni@winthrop.edu or bac@winthropalumni.com.
Visit the Alumni Association upcoming events page for full details. Use one of the free digital Winthrop backgrounds for virtual events and wear your garnet and gold attire to show your Eagle pride for both in-person and virtual activities!
*All event times are Eastern unless otherwise noted.
Ongoing
I'm Ready Alumni to Student Mentor Program
Through April
Registration is ongoing with multiple entry points throughout the program.
Winthrop Connect
I'm Ready is designed to create meaningful connections between our alumni and current students, offering a flexible approach to mentoring. With four micro-mentoring sessions - two in the fall and two in the spring - I'm Ready accommodates busy schedules while maximizing the mentorship experience. Each session is focused on specific, impactful topics such as career exploration, skill development, networking strategies, and personal growth, ensuring a well-rounded and rewarding experience for both mentors and mentees. Click here for program details and how to get involved. Contact Leah Simmonds '23, alumni career program director, at simmondsl@winthrop.edu with questions.
M.S.W. Mixer
Tuesday, March 25 │ 6-8 p.m.
The Journeyman Tavern
Rock Hill, SC 29730
Calling all M.S.W. alumni! You are invited to connect with fellow alumni at the M.S.W. Mixer on Tuesday, March 25, from 6-8 p.m. at The Journeyman Tavern in Rock Hill. The full menu and drinks will be available for purchase. Please RSVP here by Friday, March 21. For questions, e-mail Emily Spangler ’23, M.S.W. graduate associate. Follow the Master of Social Work program on Facebook and Instagram (winthropmswa)!
Hornsby M.L.A. Lecture Series
Wednesday, April 2
Reception | 4:30 p.m. in Richardson Ballroom, located inside the DiGiorgio Campus Center
Lecture | 6 p.m. in Tillman Auditorium
The Hornsby M.L.A. Lecture Series returns to Winthrop on Wednesday, April 2. Arthur Spirling, professor of politics at Princeton University, will deliver an address on “The Fall of the Machines: Beyond the Hype: Real-World Prospects and Public Skepticism of AI.” A reception will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in Richardson Ballroom, located inside the DiGiorgio Campus Center, followed by the lecture at 6 p.m. in Tillman Auditorium. RSVP for the reception here by Friday, March 28.
Following the lecture, alumni are invited to attend the LART603 class, the Intuitive Eye, from 7:30-8:30 p.m., led by Alice Burmeister, associate professor of art history. The location of the class will be announced soon. For questions, contact Greg Oakes, graduate program director for the College of Arts and Sciences, at oakesm@winthrop.edu or 803/323-3041; or Katie Hartnett, administrative specialist, at hartnettk@winthrop.edu or 803/323-2173.
3rd Annual Management and Marketing Networking Event
Thursday, April 3 | 6:30-8 p.m.
Burgers and Barley
Join the Management and Marketing faculty on Thursday, April 3, from 6:30-8 p.m. for networking with current students, alumni and business supporters. Food and beverage will be provided. Please register for the event here by Monday, March 31. For questions, please e-mail Malayka Klimchak, professor of management, at klimchakm@winthrop.edu.
Byrnes Auditorium Grand Re-opening Celebration
Friday, April 4 - Wednesday, April 9
Byrnes Auditorium
It’s time to celebrate the grand re-opening of one of Winthrop’s most beloved performance spaces and one of the largest venues in the Charlotte metropolitan region. Offline for five years for renovations, Byrnes’ reopening has been met with elation by Winthrop music students and the public who are excited to be experiencing the uncommon grandeur of this space like no other in Rock Hill and York County.
Come and experience performances by renowned musicians in a space like no other during the grand re-opening celebration. The events are sure to hit all of the right notes! All events are free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Please register here for the events you will attend. Visit the Byrnes Grand Re-opening website for more information.
Spring Official Ring Ceremony
Wednesday, April 9 | 6 p.m.
Richardson Ballroom, DiGiorgio Campus Center
The Student Alumni Council presents the Official Spring Ring Ceremony! Students who purchased their rings during spring Ring Days are eligible to participate in the ceremony and be presented with their rings. Participating students will receive a link to RSVP closer to the ceremony date.
Purchase your Official Winthrop Ring as a lifelong reminder of your Winthrop experience by shopping the website for our exclusive partner, Jostens.
College of Business and Technology Lunch and Learn
Wednesday, April 9 | Noon
Zoom
The College of Business and Technology will host a virtual Lunch and Learn featuring P.N. Saksena, dean of the College of Business and Technology, via Zoom on Wednesday, April 9, from noon-12:45 p.m. EST. The Zoom link will be provided to registrants 24 hours in advance of the event. Saksena will lead an engaging conversation and share exciting updates on the College of Business and Technology, new campus initiatives and how Winthrop continues to evolve. This is a great opportunity to reconnect with your alma mater, ask questions and hear firsthand about the university’s vision for the future. Bring your lunch, log in and let’s catch up—Winthrop is always home!
RSVP here by Monday, April 7! Submit your questions for the Lunch and Learn to Ashley Blanchard, associate vice president for university advancement, at blancharda@winthrop.edu.
Black Alumni Weekend
Thursday, April 10 - Saturday, April 12
Make plans to come home to Winthrop for the 2025 Black Alumni Weekend, April 10-12! With over 6,700 Black alumni, this weekend is an opportunity to honor the strides made by our trailblazing graduates while building meaningful connections for the future. From thought-provoking panels to community service and celebratory gatherings, this weekend is designed for alumni, students and friends to come together and honor our shared history. Registration closes on Friday, March 28.
The Sneaker Ball: Annual Eagle Club Scholarship Auction
Saturday, May 3 | 6-10 p.m.
McBryde Hall
Wear your finest attire and lace up those sneakers for a night of fun, friends and dancing to celebrate and raise funds for Winthrop student-athletes at the 2025 Sneaker Ball: Annual Eagle Club Scholarship Auction, presented by Vinyet Architecture! Live music from Chubby Knuckles, delicious cocktails, dinner and a curated silent-auction. What is a “Sneaker Ball” you ask? It’s simple: pair your cocktail attire with your favorite sneakers! You get to dress fancy while wearing comfortable (and fun) shoes! Purchase your tickets at https://eagleclub.givesmart.com. For questions, e-mail eagleclub@winthrop.edu.
8th Annual Winthrop Golf Classic
Monday, May 12 | 8:30 a.m.
Rock Hill Country Club
Rock Hill, SC 29730
The 8th annual Winthrop Golf Classic will be held on Monday, May 12, at the Rock Hill Country Club. Check-in opens at 8:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 10 a.m. 4-person teams can register for $800. Individual players can register for $200. Hole sponsorships are available for $100, which includes a hole sign with individual or company name displayed. Mulligans will be available for purchase on-site and cash only. All proceeds from the golf tournament will support the Winthrop men's and women's golf programs. The day will also include a silent auction, prizes and gifts. Register here by Monday, May 5, at 5 p.m. For questions, e-mail Kevin Pendley '98, men's head golf coach, at pendleyk@winthrop.edu.
Winthrop Ever Stand,
Lori Tuttle
Executive Director of Alumni Relations and Reunion Giving
