Ty Robbins, a senior environmental sciences major from Clemson, South Carolina, and
Allyssa Calderhead, a senior environmental studies major living in Fort Mill, are
the first two Dalton Scholarship recipients. In other environmental news, Winthrop's first Spencer Fellow is Jaime Taylor, an
environmental sciences major who will work this summer on a research project with
Scott Werts, associate professor in geology. 
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA - With its first two recipients identified, Winthrop's Dalton Environmental Scholarship will begin changing the lives of Winthrop students this fall.
Ty Robbins, a senior environmental sciences major from Clemson, South Carolina, graduating in
December, will use the scholarship for his final semester at Winthrop. Driven by a
desire to reduce ecological stresses on people and ecosystems alike, Robbins hopes
to pursue career opportunities in experimental agriculture, possibly in Orlando, Florida,
as arable land becomes less available and food needs increase with population growth.
Both of Robbins' parents are Winthrop graduates.
Allyssa Calderhead, a senior environmental studies major living in Fort Mill, will use the scholarship
for the 2017-18 academic year. She is a non-traditional student completing her degree
while working with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) designs at
an engineering firm in Charlotte. Upon graduation next year, Calderhead wants to continue
her studies with a master's degree in city planning. She is committed to using her
voice in local industry to help create greater efficiency in building systems.
Both of these seniors are excellent choices for Winthrop's inaugural Dalton Environmental Scholarship, said David Meeler, an associate professor and the Dalton Chair of environmental sciences and environmental studies.
The scholarships are among several gifts from Harry Dalton `86 and his late wife, Becca Dalton. The Rock Hill couple has been long-time supporters of Winthrop and particularly
the environmental sciences and environmental studies programs, having established
the Dalton Chair and launched Winthrop's environmental programs in 2001. Their most
recent gift created an endowment in 2017 to support scholarships for environmental
science or environmental studies majors.
Another donation to Winthrop in 2017 is having an impact on environmentally minded
students. The gift came from the estate of Margaret Spencer, the mother of Marsha Bollinger, a Winthrop professor of geology and former Dalton Chair. It established the Spencer
Summer Undergraduate Fellowship to help rising juniors or seniors majoring in environmental
sciences or environmental studies to engage in a summer project.
Winthrop's first Spencer Fellow is Jaime Taylor, an environmental sciences major, who will work this summer on a research project
with Scott Werts, associate professor in geology. The two will analyze the quality of compost produced
from Winthrop's food waste and compare the effectiveness of fertilizers from compost
generated on campus to traditional fertilizers.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or e-mail her at longshawj@winthrop.edu.
