A new Winthrop endowment will support students who are descendants of people who
worked at the Celanese Celriver plant. Students who are from York, Chester or Lancaster counties in South Carolina are also
eligible. The Celanese Celriver corporate complex once encompassed 1,100 acres along the Catawba
River and was one of Rock Hill's largest employers.
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA — A newly established endowment at Winthrop University will
carry on Rock Hill's strong economic legacy anchored to the cherished Celriver plant.
Members of the Celriver Legacy Project — an effort launched in 2014 by former Celriver employees and supporters wanting
to retain the memory of the Celriver facility — were instrumental in raising funds
for the Celriver Legacy Scholarship at Winthrop and creating other initiatives that have since sprouted from the venture.
The Winthrop endowment will support two annual scholarships to students, with first
preference given to students who are descendants of people who worked at Celriver
and second preference to students who are from York, Chester or Lancaster counties in South Carolina. Eligible recipients can renew the scholarship if they maintain
a 2.5 GPA.
Mack Bailey, a board member of the Celriver Legacy Project, said the endowment supports future Winthrop graduates who are critical to maintaining
the area's economy, which thrived during the years of the facility's presence in the
community.
During its 60 years of operation (1948 to 2005), the synthetic fiber manufacturing complex — which included a water purification plant, electrical power plant and wastewater
treatment plant — became one of Rock Hill's largest employers and spurred a deep community
connection among Celriver workers and their families.
"Celriver was an influential part of Rock Hill's economic fabric and it's important
to preserve that history so that upcoming generations really understand how the city
has been able to prosper for so long," Bailey said. "We must keep that economic momentum
going with young minds who can acknowledge the past while developing an even brighter
future," he added.
Other Celriver Legacy Project initiatives include:
