CAMPUS NEWS John Brazell Joins Board of Trustees


South Carolina lawmakers voted on Sept. 23 for John Brazell ‘93 of Columbia to join the Winthrop University Board of Trustees. Brazell will serve a six-year term.


He ran unopposed and replaced Donna Glenn Holley who represent- ed Congressional District 2 and opted not to run for re-election.


Brazell has been an independent branch leader and financial consul- tant with Charles Schwab since 2017. He holds a psychology degree from Winthrop.


Shaun Cassidy Named Newest Thompson Scholar


For the first time since 2016-17, Winthrop has appointed a new Thompson Scholar: Professor of Fine Arts Shaun Cassidy.


The $5,000 award, generated through the Robert and Norma Thompson Endowment which was established during the university’s first capital campaign, is given to support work on projects that strengthen the academic, intellectual and co-curricular life of the university. While in previous years the award had been for course-release funding, this year marks the first time the Thompson Scholar received a monetary award.


Cassidy noted that the Thompson Scholarship will allow him to introduce students to the many facets of being a public artist, including project application, ideation, model building, fabrication and installation of projects. The goal, he said, is to help equip students with these re- al-world skill sets that will help them apply for public art projects upon graduation.


Three New Degrees Launched to Fit Job Market


This fall, Winthrop introduced three new undergradu- ate degree programs: Bachelor of Arts in data science; Bachelor of Science in applied software development; and Bachelor of Science in educational studies.


Provost Adrienne McCormick noted that these three offerings are timely and necessary to provide students with degrees to fit the needs and demands of the cur- rent job market.


The Bachelor of Arts in data science is ideal for students with high quantitative reasoning skills who are interested in mathematics and computer science.


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There is currently only one undergraduate program in data science in the Carolinas.


The Bachelor of Science in applied software development is targeted to students who have completed an associate’s degree in applied science in computer technology.


The Bachelor of Science in educational studies will help students who decide later to pursue teacher certification in early childhood education, elementary education, middle-level education or special education.


FALL 2020 Rex Institute Receives Outstanding Partner Award


The Rock Hill School District recently recognized Winthrop’s Jim and Sue Rex Institute for Educational Renewal with the 2020 Outstanding Partner Award for its assistance in helping a local elementary school with its lack of space.


For years, The Rex Institute has worked with Rock Hill Schools in teacher preparation and professional development programs, awarding grants to teachers and schools to implement innovative and unique ideas, and providing on-going professional learning opportunities to area teachers and administrators.


For the 2019 and 2020 school years, The Rex Institute added another element of support to Ebenezer Avenue Elementary School, and that was space. As enrollment has soared, the school could no longer host special events and performances in its cafeteria or on its tiny stage. The school was able to host student performances and promotion ceremonies in auditoriums and venues on the Winthrop campus before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. School administrators were grateful and recognized the institute at a recent Rock Hill School board work session.


It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like…


Since the Dec. 4 Rock Hill Christmas Parade will be held virtually due to COVID-19, Interim President George Hynd, First Lady Alison Hynd and their dog, Curry, took time recently to film the university’s parade submission, which was a read- ing of a Winthrop-themed edition of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The virtual parade will begin on Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. and will broadcast on CN2 and on the Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism Facebook page. View Winthrop’s video submission.


Sports Teams Adapt to Adjusted Seasons


The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recently announced when college and university sports teams could begin competition that had been paused due to COVID-19. These dates are for the start of the regular season schedule through the Big South Conference tournament competi- tion. NCAA tournaments and championships will follow when announced:


• Men’s and Women’s Basketball – season start date is Nov. 25; season end date and conference tourna- ment start date to be determined.


• Men’s and Women’s Cross Country - Jan. 23-March 5 • Men’s and Women’s Soccer - Feb. 3-April 17 • Volleyball - Jan. 22-April 3


At the time of this Winthrop Magazine print- ing, no decision had been made regarding fan attendance at games. For more information, please visit www.winthropeagles.com or call 803/323-2129.


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CAMPUS NEWS


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