SUMMER 2025


Benjamins Create Scholarship to Pave Way for History Makers


Fourth Circuit. Confirmed to the court in 2023, Judge Benjamin is the second African-American woman and the first person of color from South Carolina to serve on the Fourth Circuit.


Steve Benjamin said it was important to the couple to make sure others had the resources to follow in the same career path if that was their goal. “DeAndrea is a history maker, fully representative of the possibilities in American life. She is the product of her faith, her family and the sacrifices and contributions of others to ensure that she would be able to achieve historic heights.”


The Hon. DeAndrea Gist Benjamin Endowed Scholarship provide funds to support a student majoring in political science and is also pre-law. Preference is given to a student from South Carolina and who is a minority.


DeAndrea Gist Benjamin


Former Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin and The Honorable DeAndrea Gist Benjamin ’94 have created a scholarship that honors Judge Benjamin’s history-making career.


Judge Benjamin serves as a United States Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the


Day of Giving Breaks More Records!


The fifth annual Day of Giving, held April 22-23, be- came the most successful 24 hours of giving to date, thanks to generous alumni, faculty, staff and friends. Donors gave in spades, surpassing the 1,000 donor goal, and unlocked several giving challenges and matching gifts to raise even more financial support.


“We hope this scholarship provides a meaningful resource to a young person to achieve his or her dreams. We want the recipient to have faith, work hard, get good grades, treat people with dignity and respect, and serve the community knowing that he or she has our full support,” said Steve.


Judge Benjamin was the 2024 recipient of the Alumni Association’s Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Read more about her storied career and achievements.


ADVANCEMENT NEWS Foundation Welcomes New Executive Director


The Winthrop University Foundation Board of Directors recently an- nounced the unanimous appointment of Courtney Jurado as the Foundation’s new executive director.


Courtney Jurado


Jurado will assume the position on July 21. She will


succeed Robin Embry ’00, ’12, who concluded her 14 years of service to the Foundation on June 30.


Somervilles Establish New Organ Fund to Honor David Lowry


Husband and wife Murray and Hazel ’69 Somerville have each known Professor Emeritus of Music David Lowry longer than they have known each other.


David Lowry


The accomplished organ- ists and generous Winthrop supporters recently created


1,011 Donors $391,233 Raised 263 Donors Gave to the Winthrop Fund 243 Donors Gave to Athletics 22 Matching and Challenge Gifts Were Made 18 Donors established a New Monthly Gift


For information on giving opportunities, please visit www.winthrop.edu/give or call 803/323-2275. 18


the Dr. David Lowry Endowment Fund for Organ Education in honor of Lowry, who taught organ performance and served as the university’s principal organist until his retirement in 2012.


The new fund will provide support for the ongoing education and advancement of organists at all stag- es of their musical journey.


“We want to honor Dr. David Lowry for his important influence on our lives and the lives of many stu- dents, choral members and colleagues, by providing a means for his legacy to continue at Winthrop,” said the Somervilles. “Inspired by his teaching, many of his students have continued with graduate study


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and impressive professional careers, benefitting from his stated goal of coaching us to think for ourselves and always seek for musical excellence in our musical endeavors. At Winthrop he maximized the resources of the D.B. Johnson Organ in the most creative way to excite each student’s imagination. As churches face a shortage of skilled organists, this fund aims to offer lifelong learning opportunities for those who want to enhance their skill on the organ.”


Several of Lowry’s friends and former students re- cently gathered to once again play the D.B. Johnson Memorial Organ and share stories about Lowry and his impact on their lives.


Make a gift to the Dr. David Lowry Endowment Fund for Organ Education.


As the executive director, Jurado will ensure the Foundation’s mission to support and enhance Winthrop by encouraging alumni and friends to con- tribute private funds and other resources that allow the institution to maximize its potential.


She joins the Foundation from AbilityFirst, a Los Angeles, California-based nonprofit supporting indi- viduals with disabilities and their families.

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