ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA- Winthrop University awarded nine scholars the President’s Award for Academic Excellence during May’s Commencement ceremonies. The award is given to the student(s) who have the highest GPA of their graduating class.
The following students were awarded the President’s Award for Academic Excellence:
* Scarlett Black, an English and Spanish major, is from Rock Hill. She was a member of the Winthrop Honors Association, Phi Kappa Phi, the Book and Key Liberal Arts Honors Society and served as a Student Marshal. This fall she will attend law school at the University of South Carolina.
* Allee Campbell, an exercise science major, is from Spartanburg. She was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority serving as Honor Council Chair and on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She was the president of Order of Omega, Chief Student Marshal and on the Student Leadership Staff for the Office of New Student and Family Programs. This fall she will attend the University of South Carolina to pursue her master’s degree in public health.
* Kevin Caudill, a business administration major, is from Rock Hill. He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and the National Society of Leadership and Success. After graduation he plans to work in operations and pursue an M.B.A.
* Gabrielle Cobbina, a math major, was a transfer student from Tega Cay. She completed an independent study in actuarial mathematics during her time at Winthrop. This summer she will work with a math professor in preparation to take the actuarial exam.
* Mary Gump, a special education major, is from Bluffton. She was involved with the Teaching Fellows Program and was a First Year Experience Peer Mentor, Special Education Ambassador and a lead tutor and residential mentor for the Winthrop Think College Program. This fall she will teach at Clinton High School.
* Kennedy Mayers, a business administration major, is from Greenville. She was an integral part of the Model UN program, serving two years as the coordinator general. In 2019 she interned with the Greenville Revitalization Corporation and then with TIAA in summer 2020. After graduation she will work full time as an internal audit associate at TIAA.
* Lauren Quesada, a special education major, is from Bluffton. She was involved in the Teaching Fellows Program and served as a Student Marshal and Special Education Ambassador. She was a member of Phi Kappa Pi, the Council for Exceptional Children, the International Literacy Association and worked for Winthrop Think College. She will teach at Jefferson Elementary School in York.
* J’ai Reed, a mass communication major, is from Saint Stephen. She served as parliamentarian for the National Pan-Hellenic Council, a broadcast assistant for Winthrop Athletics, assistant sports editor for the Johnsonian and as an assistant girls basketball coach at Rock Hill High School. She was also named this year’s top scholar for the mass communication department. She will continue to coach girls basketball at Rock Hill High School as she works full time as a marketing assistant for Walk2Campus Properties.
* Katrina Sides, an elementary education major, is from Goose Creek. She was involved in the Teaching Fellows Program, was an Academic Success Center Peer Tutor, Winthrop Ambassador, member of the International Literacy Association and worked at Macfeat Laboratory School. She will teach third grade at Johnson Elementary School in Columbus, Georgia.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or e-mail her at longshawj@winthrop.edu.
