two-block lineup throughout the day, and I'm sure that the word got out largely because of that original account [@erinireland]. I love being able to post a picture of a delicious pastry and then see how many people have been able to share this with a friend.”
CONNOR HARRIS ’25
Baseball player, Savannah Bananas Ball Tik Tok: @connorharris_30, 22K+ followers Instagram: @connorharris30, 23K+ followers
Connor Harris swore that one day, he’d return to his Avon, Connecticut, hometown wearing a New York Yankees jersey, his dream team.
The dream will come true in a way he could never have imagined: Harris will play baseball in Yankee Stadium this year but actually clad in Savannah Bananas bright yellow.
Harris played baseball for George Washington University, where he earned a communications degree and played in more than 30 games before tearing his ulnar collateral ligament that ended his senior season.
“I was faced with a choice,” he said, “Do I start working or do I use this setback to create a comeback? I wanted to continue challenging myself academically and professionally.”
After Tommy John surgery, Harris heard about Winthrop through a former assistant baseball coach.
Harris began the M.B.A. program and recovered from surgery in 11 months, adding that his Winthrop coaches and teammates were vital in the process.
“The only game Winthrop played anywhere near Connecticut was against St. John’s, and that is where I made my first start with over 60 family members and friends in attendance,” he said. “It was a special moment and a testament to everyone who helped me.”
Harris was also a finalist for the inaugural Tony Gwynn Community Service Trophy for his work with the Rock Hill Miracle League and other initiatives.
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Honors Collier's Life SINGLE LARGEST
CASH GIFT
Virginia Bellune Collier ’30 had long held the dream of becoming a doctor.
He had just pitched a successful game when a Savannah Bananas scout called. Harris spent the summer in Savannah playing for the developmental team and was drafted.
Before that day, he didn’t have a Tik Tok and rarely posted on Instagram. Now, he posts about his family (especially his sweet Nana), takes his audience along to games, jumps into social trends, and…dances to Justin Bieber songs on cruise ships!
“It’s all part of the job, and it keeps me on my toes while giving fans content that is unforgettable,” he said.
Harris hopes that his content will inspire, motivate or simply bring joy to someone’s day.
“Whether a video gets three views or three million, if it helps one person, it’s worth it,” he said. “Initially, it felt like I was giving up my MLB dream, but then I realized I was now chasing a dream I never knew I had.”
As a student at Winthrop College, The South Carolina College for Women, pre-Great Depression, she showed an abiding interest in biology, serving as president of the Forceps and Scalpel Club and a member of Beta Beta Beta, a professional society for students of the biological sciences. Due to the era in which she lived, Collier pivoted to teaching, and she taught biology and chemistry at Andrews High School until retirement. Her passion for biology and medicine never wavered, and she found many outlets, including owning a flower shop, working in the local drugstore with her husband and tending to her half-acre vegetable garden.
Collier’s dream will live on through many others: her family recently made in her honor the largest cash gift in the institution’s history, ensuring $2 million for teacher education scholarships, preferably in STEM disciplines, and $500,000 set aside for a professorship in the College of Arts and Sciences.
“This remarkable gift affirms the power of investing in those who choose to teach,” said Beth Costner, dean of the Richard W. Riley College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences. “By supporting future educators — particularly in high-need STEM disciplines — we are not only changing the lives of Winthrop students today, but also strengthening schools and communities for years to come. The legacy of this generosity will be felt in every student our graduates inspire.”
Takita Sumter, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said the college deeply appreciates the
gift as there is a key goal of expanding the number of professorships.
“Professorships allow faculty to be more creative in their teaching and research endeavors and ultimately expose students to cutting-edge practices,” she said. “We are thrilled about the benefit that this donation will offer to faculty and students.”
ABOUT VIRGINIA BELLUNE COLLIER ’30 Virginia Bellune Collier was born in
Georgetown in 1909. In addition to her scholarly interests at Winthrop, she participated in the Young Women’s Christian Association, the Athletic Association, the Choral Society, the International Relations Club, Girl Scouts, the clubs known as Masquers and Journeyman, and served as a Commencement Marshal. She also graduated with honors, and the Tatler described her as “A modern Portia – A queen of beauty – ‘The Rosary.’
She was active in her church, Trinity United Methodist Church, having served on its board of trustees, as a choir member, former schoolteacher and Daisy Watson Bible class member, as well as a member of the Anna Hannah Circle of the United Methodist Women.
She was a member of the Georgetown County Retired Teachers Association, the S.C. Retired Teachers Association and the National Retired Teachers Association. She was a member of the S.C. Huguenot Society and a former member of the Rosemary Garden Club.
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