Te destinies of Winthrop and the city of Rock Hill have been entwined for a
long time – 133 years, to be exact. “In my opinion, our community would not exist as it does today without Winthrop's influence,” said Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys. “Professors and graduates have served and are serving on City Council and have a large influence on many of our city's boards and commissions. Te ability for the people of Rock Hill to gain from the insight and training of the Winthrop faculty and staff gives our community a foundation most communities do not enjoy.”
Winthrop President Dan Mahony agreed. “In many ways, the development of the city has an impact on Winthrop, including our ability to attract students, as well as faculty and staff,” he said. “Likewise, the community benefits from the continued development of Winthrop, including our impact on workforce development, economic impact of our campus community on the city, and our role in attracting residents to the community.”
As in most healthy relationships, both entities have grown individually as well.
TAKE NEXT STEPS IN RELATIONSHIP
WINTHROP, CITY 2
For example, Winthrop recently earned national acclaim for its commitment to diversity: Te Education Trust recognized the institution as second in the country for graduating minority populations; and Mahony became the first South Carolina university president to sign the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion Pledge. Winthrop reported its all-time highest 6-year graduation rate, and a record number of prospective students applied to Winthrop’s Class of 2023. Meanwhile, Rock Hill has become a sports tourism destination, hosting the UCI BMX World Championships and the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships, among other national events.
Now, the two will grow together like never before, as they are on the cusp of exciting developments that will enrich the lives of students, faculty, staff, supporters and community members for years to come.
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‘THRIVING WINTHROP UNIVERSITY, THRIVING ROCK HILL’
Tree projects in particular — University Center, the My Ride Bus System and Miracle Park — illustrate the beauty of how this relationship works.
“Overall, when we find the right projects, it benefits us both because many of these projects could not happen without those partnerships,” Mahony said. “A thriving Rock Hill benefits Winthrop University, and a thriving Winthrop University benefits Rock Hill.”
Gettys called Winthrop “essential” to the success of all three projects.
“Tese three projects are all important for our community, each project would be unique to any community, but to have all three presently in some stage of conversation, planning or actual implementation is extraordinary,” he said. “When you have such a full plate of work and the work to be unique to the community, you have to have people with talent and vision involved to be successful.”
UNIVERSITY CENTER
Once part of the Rock Hill Printing & Finishing Co., a busy textile plant that operated for nearly 70 years, the Lowenstein Building and adjoining 1939 Building will soon become University Center, a 23-acre development that
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