Winthrop University

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Winthrop University

Motto Veritas cum libertate
Truth with liberty
Established 1886
Type Public
President Anthony J. DiGiorgio
Faculty 255
Undergraduates 5187
Postgraduates 1293
Location Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA
Campus Suburban
Colors Garnet and Gold
Mascot Eagles
Website Home Page

Winthrop University (formerly Winthrop College) is an American public, four-year liberal arts college in Rock Hill, South Carolina, within the greater Metrolina (NC / SC) area. In 2005, Winthrop University had an enrollment of 6,480 students.

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[edit] History

Winthrop was founded in 1886 in Columbia, SC by then superintendent David Bancroft Johnson as a teacher training college to help build the state school system in the aftermath of the American Civil War. The founding class of 21 women met in a one-room building in Columbia. In 1895, Winthrop moved and made its permanent home in Rock Hill. The name "Winthrop" comes from the man who made the first contribution of $1,500 - Massachusetts philanthropist Robert C. Winthrop; enough to rent the original one-room building. It was integrated in 1964 and became a co-ed institution in 1972. Winthrop has undergone several name changes through its history, Winthrop Training School, 1886, South Carolina Industrial and Winthrop Normal College in 1891, Winthrop Normal and Industrial College of South Carolina in 1894, Winthrop College (The South Carolina College for Women) in 1920, Winthrop College in 1974, and Winthrop University in 1992. While the school now has a large variety of majors, it is still widely known for the quality of teachers that train and get their degree there.

2006 Part of the film Asylum is being filmed at Winthrop.

1999 Part of The Rage: Carrie 2 was filmed at Winthrop.

1991 Ronald Reagan visited Winthrop to see the Tau Kappa Epsilon chapter.

[edit] Notable Alumni

  • Martha Thomas Fitzgerald, first woman elected to South Carolina House of Representatives as a full-term legislator.
  • Dr. Mary Gaulden Jagger, one of the founding members of the National Organization for Women.
  • Reginald Lloyd, (1989), US District Attorney for South Carolina.
  • Cecily Truett Lencit, Emmy Award-winning educational television producer (Reading Rainbow).
  • Frances Patton Statham, historical and romance novelist.
  • Ida Crawford Stewart, former Vice-President of Estee Lauder Cosmetics.
  • Lois Rhame West, wife of former South Carolina Governor, John C. West.
  • Actress Andie MacDowell attended Winthrop in 1977 (as Winthrop College) but dropped out as a sophomore in 1978 to sign with Elite Model Management.

[edit] Athletics

Winthrop University athletic teams compete on the NCAA Division 1 level and are a member of the Big South Conference. Winthrop athletic teams are known by the nickname "Eagles". The teams' colors are garnet and gold. The athletic department offices are located in the 6,100-seat Winthrop Coliseum located 1 mile from the University's main campus.

The Winthrop University men's basketball team has earned a slot in the NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Tournament in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, and 2006. They are coached by Gregg Marshall. They have also won the Big South Conference Championship title in 1988, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2006. In 2006, the men's basketball team's season ended with a close loss to the University of Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The men's baseball team has earned Big South Conference Titles in 1995, 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2005. They have earned a slot in the 1995, 1999, 2001, 2005 and 2006 NCAA Regionals.

The women's volleyball team has earned a slot in the NCAA Tournament in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. They were Big South Conference Tournament Champions in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.

[edit] External links