ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Winthrop University will hold two Commencement ceremonies on Dec. 18, a morning ceremony to honor the August and December 2021 graduates and an afternoon ceremony to recognize 2020 graduates.
Interim President George Hynd will oversee both ceremonies and will confer degrees to nearly 300 graduate and undergraduate students at the 11 a.m. ceremony at Winthrop Coliseum.
At 3 p.m., the university will hold a belated Commencement ceremony for the 2020 graduates who did not get to experience an in-person Commencement because of COVID-19. Nearly 200 students will participate.
“We surveyed all 2020 graduates earlier this semester and found that many wanted to come back home to Winthrop to celebrate in person,” Hynd said. “I’m looking forward to double the celebration this December.”The university will require all in attendance to wear a mask or face covering and will encourage social distancing and other pandemic-related protocols.
The keynote speaker for both ceremonies is Chemistry Professor Cliff Calloway, who was recognized in May as the university’s Distinguished Professor. His message of “Thinking Like a Scientist Thinks” should intrigue graduates and the audience.
During the 11 a.m. ceremony, Hynd will recognize Professor of Management Barbara Burgess-Wilkerson as the 2021 Kinard Award recipient for excellence in teaching. The Kinard Award is the university’s highest teaching honor. She joined the Winthrop faculty in 2006 and teaches business communication, professional development and organizational leadership courses.
Administrators call Burgess-Wilkerson a passionate teacher whose legacy is preparing Winthrop students for professional careers. She developed the Wilkerson Emotional Intelligence Test for Academics and Careers, which is designed to help students identify their areas of strength and weakness as they prepare for their professional lives.
Traffic Expected Around Commencement Activities
Rock Hill residents who are not attending the Commencement ceremonies may want to stay away from the Winthrop Coliseum area due to the heavy traffic anticipated during the events. Signs will be posted near the coliseum encouraging those not attending to take a different route.
For those who cannot attend the Dec. 18 ceremonies, they will be available for viewing via live stream on YouTube.
Please visit the university's homepage and click on the "Commencement Information" graphic to access the live stream and other important information regarding Commencement.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or longshawj@winthrop.edu.
