Alumni Cheer on Eagles at Area Socials


Eagles Helping Eagles: Alumni Can Mentor Students Through I’m Ready Program


Alumni and Eagle fans gathered at pregame socials before a basketball game in Charleston (top) and a baseball game in Greenville (bottom).


Alumni recently gathered for pregame socials to cheer on the Eagles! There were two pregame socials in the upstate, on Saturday, Jan. 10, at Rockers Brewing Co. before the men's basketball team beat USC Upstate and on Tuesday, March 3, at Lefty’s West End Tavern before the baseball team upset Michigan State at Fluor Field! On Thursday, Feb. 26, alumni gathered at Stones Throw Brewing for the last game on the road when the men's basketball team faced Charleston Southern. Thanks for showing up, Eagle fans!


Now in its third year, the I’m Ready alumni-to-student mentor program continues to grow, reaching record- breaking student participation and reinforcing the power of the Winthrop community. Created as part of the university’s Flight Ready Quality Enhancement Plan but rooted in the idea of “Eagles Helping Eagles,” the program connects students with alumni mentors to support career readiness, professional growth and confidence building. Through guided topic micro- sessions and meaningful one-on-one conversations, students gain real professional insight from their mentors.


Meet Mentor Bryan Martin ’97, ’02


Why did you choose to become an alumni mentor?


“Having grown up, settled down, raised a family and served my entire career in the Rock Hill community, I wanted to capitalize on the opportunity to engage and influence students at Winthrop to realize their


full potential as future leaders in their respective fields and communities.”


1984 Michelle Goodwin-Calwile of Greenville was elected to the inaugural South Carolina Hunt State Policy Fellows program.


1995 Carolina Barbosa Blouin of Augusta, Georgia, competed in the International Tennis Federation Masters World Team Championships.


Jennifer Jenkins Butler of Columbia was recognized as the 2025 Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers – South Carolina Chapter.


2001 Rachel Young Fields of Savannah, Georgia, was recognized as a 2025 Legal Elite by Georgia Trend.


Rinice Sauls of Rock Hill was named chief human resources and strategic planning officer for the Clover School District.


Homecoming and


Reunion Set for Nov. 13-14 Calling all alumni! Plan to come home to Winthrop Nov. 13-14 for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. There will be a full weekend of events planned, including the Alumni Reunion Brunch, athletics events and class reunion gatherings. If your class year ends in '6 and '1 you are celebrating a milestone reunion. Registration will open in August. Be on the lookout for more information to soon hit your e-mail inbox and mailbox.


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2008 Erica McCray of Rock Hill, principal at Riverwalk Academy, received a Milken Educator Award. She joined a nationwide network of over 3,000 Milken Educator Award recipients who are shaping the future of education.


2009 Allison Rouse of Mount Pleasant is the assistant principal at Mitchell Elementary School in Charleston.


2015 Kaitlin Ellenburg Palm of Vacaville, California, was promoted to major in the United States Air Force.


2018 Josh Mangle of Simpsonville joined the Converse University faculty as an instructor of English.


Hailey Martin Smith of Lexington published her first book, “Let Me Be Brave.”


2019 Layne Smith of Lexington was named Sigma Alpha Epsilon's director of accountability.


Allison Snipes Welte of Rock Hill was named the 2025–26 District Teacher of the Year by the Limestone Charter Association.


2020 Norah Mendoza of Saint Petersburg, Florida, was featured on Forbes.com in the article, “Meet the Woman Who's Making Shark Science Inclusive and Revolutionary.”


2022 Anna Conlon of Fort Mill is a case manager for the S.C. Department of Social Services Midlands Adoptions.


2023 Jacelyn Forst of Charlotte, North Carolina, oversaw the successful run of The Conjuring: Beyond Fear, Carowinds amusement park’s new attraction for the SCarowinds season.


2024 Rock Hill native Logan Pender was selected as a speaker for the 2025 Social Forum of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. He also was chosen to present the Fritz Kaufmann Award to Faith Colvin, vice president of global public policy and international affairs for Marriott International, at the 2025 Fund for Education Abroad Gala.


2025 Kason Harrison of Beaumont, Texas, joined Apollon Limassol Basketball Club in Cyprus.


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