Advancement News Winthrop, PricewaterhouseCoopers Partner on


Accounting Program for Underrepresented Students Despite years of intensive efforts, the accounting profession still struggles with the challenge of how to diversify its ranks. To address this issue, Winthrop’s College of Business Administration has collaborated with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the world’s largest professional services firms, to create a professional development program that assists underrepresented students pursuing careers in accounting.


Established in part by an $88,000 gift from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Accounting Mentorship and Professional Development (AMPD) program provides participants with professional development sessions, tutoring, cohort accounting classes, access to Becker Professional Education’s CPA Exam Review, a PwC mentor (sophomore through senior years), ongoing scholarship support and an automatic invitation to a PwC Freshman Externship.


Clarence Coleman, professor of accounting and director of the AMPD program, talked with program participants during a recent meeting.


“I participated in this program because it would afford me the opportunity to make connections with others in the accounting field. Tis program is so beneficial to students because it allows us to visit accounting firms such as PwC and provides us with the resources to be successful ,” said Kayla Brown, an AMPD participant from Charlotte, North Carolina, and a member of the women’s basketball team.


According to College of Business Administration Dean P.N. Saksena, “the AMPD program has strong potential to expand in the future and to become a national model for other colleges and universities.”


Gifts and Pledges of Note:


• Donald Kollarik established the Reverend (Colonel) Mary Lou Morris Kollarik and Colonel Donald Martin Kollarik Scholarship and Annual Restricted Scholarship to honor his wife, Mary ’68, and their military careers. Te scholarship will provide an annual award to one senior in Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) who is eligible for commissioning into any branch of the military following graduation. First preference will be given to a student within the Richard W. Riley College of Education.


• Dolores Vees ’72 established the Dolores Vees Endowed Scholarship to award annually to a first-generation student who is majoring in psychology or counseling and development at the graduate level.


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To learn more about making a gift in support of Winthrop


students, please contact Evan Bohnen, vice president for university advancement, at 803/323-2275 or email bohnene@winthrop.edu.


Meet Your 2017


Alumni Award Winners Your 2017 Alumni Award Winners are, from left, Jay Karen ’96; Sue Francis Meriwether Steed ’67; Zainab Ghadiyali ’09; President Dan Mahony (presented the awards); Cynthia Plair Roddey ’67; David McDonald ’01 (announced the winners); Polly Wylie Ford ’48; Delores Johnson Hurt ’67; Larry Durham ’80; and Gene Mackey, accepting the award posthumously for his wife, Arnetta Gladden Mackey ’67. Read more about the winners.


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Alumni News


Isaiah Venning Elected as Alumni Representative to Winthrop’s Board of Trustees


Alumni have chosen Isaiah “Reggie” Venning ’95, ’00 to serve as the alumni representative for the Winthrop University Board of Trustees.


Te six-year term begins July 1.


“I am so excited and honored to be elected to serve as an alumni representative on Winthrop’s Board of Trustees,” said Venning. “I am looking forward to supporting the mission and long-term benefits of the university.”


Te Rock Hill resident earned his B.S. in business administration and his M.B.A. at Winthrop. He is a self-employed stock trader.


Isaiah “Reggie” Venning


Venning has remained active with his alma mater, currently serving on the Graduate School Advisory Board as a member of the Community Relations Sub-Committee.


He also has made significant contributions to the local community and state. He serves on the city of Rock Hill Community Relations Council, where he contributes to the MLK Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, Black History Program and


National Race Equality Week.


Presently, he is the PTO president for Old Pointe Elementary School. He also serves on the Carolina Community Actions (CCA) Board. Venning volunteers regularly at the elementary, middle and high schools in the local area. As a result, he received the Outstanding Volunteer Award from Rock Hill School District Tree. Venning is an active member of the Kappa Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.


He also serves as public service chair for the chapter, where members participate in local community service efforts. Finally, Venning serves as the district coordinator for the Big Brother/ Big Sister program for the Sixth District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.


Venning is married to Krystal Davis Venning ’96, ’99, and the couple has two children, Isaiah Jr. and Langston.


Save the Date!


Come home to Winthrop for 2018 Homecoming and Reunion Weekend on Nov. 16-17! Tailgate with friends before cheering on the Eagles at the Homecoming basketball game, or celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s alumni award recipients. And there’s plenty more to do: take a trolley tour of campus, celebrate on campus during Homecoming on the Green Friday night and more. Visit www.winthrop.edu/alumni or call 800/578-6545 for more information.


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