ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Two Close Scholars who have a passion for community service captured top honors at the 2023 Winthrop University Student Affairs Awards ceremony on April 19 at the DiGiorgio Campus Center.
Sydney Gambrell, an art major from Pendleton, South Carolina, was presented the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award. As a Close Scholar, she is required to complete 112 hours of community service per semester. Gambrell met and exceeded program requirements serving the community in myriad ways, putting in more than 700 volunteer hours. She is a Peer Mentor for the First Year Experience and serves as the College of Visual and Performing Arts Gallery student representative, Council of Student Leaders’ student representative for the CVPA, and Union of Student Artists board member. Known for her communication skills, Gambrell has a strong work ethic, a professional persona and a strong commitment to the Winthrop community. After graduation in May, Gambrell will be working as an art educator at the Art Center of Clemson and hopes to earn a master’s degree in fine arts.
Miguel Caldwell, an elementary education major from Camden, South Carolina, was presented the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. He has embraced his role as the Council of Student Leaders president and many other leadership roles, said Dean of Students Amber Slack. He has exceptional communication skills, a powerful work ethic and a dedication to the Winthrop community. He leads with intentionality, and everyone around him feels respected, welcomed and celebrated at all times. His commitment to service also goes beyond expectations as he put in more than 700 volunteer hours as part of the Close Scholars program. After graduation in May, Caldwell will be teaching in Rock Hill Schools’ Oakdale Elementary.
The Sullivan Foundation sponsors the presentation of the two awards to seniors from college campuses in the Southeast and recognizes individuals who demonstrate noble character and who act as humble servants.
The prestigious American Legion Award was given to Trey Wineglass, a senior business administration major from Georgetown, South Carolina. During the pandemic, Wineglass volunteered at Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital to aid patients and nurses. He also volunteered with a poverty agency, Special Olympics, a retirement home and boys’ mentoring group. His undergraduate research explored the causes of the recent nursing shortage and strategies to increase nurse retention.
Wineglass graduates in May and will attend Johns Hopkins University to earn his master’s degree.
Additional awards presented were:
The Diversity and Student Engagement Award – Rossy Solorzano, a graduate student from Dillon, South Carolina, who is earning a master’s degree in education counseling and who works to break the stigma of mental health problems with people of color.
Gloria Godfrey Jones Outstanding Tutor Award – Molly Quetel, a chemistry major who has worked for seven semesters in the Academic Success Center tutoring students in multiple chemistry and math courses.
Elizabeth Hope Reed Fellowship Program recipients for undergraduates – Gabrielle Brown, early childhood education; Cierra Haynes, political science; Claire Kirkley, art; Consuela Middleton, mass communication; Preston Mincey, computer science; Bailee Moore, business administration; Sage Ortiz-Ballard, elementary education; Joshua Pringle, dance; Haley Robertson, psychology; and Trent Smith, elementary education.
Cynthia Cassens Resident Assistant of the Year Award – Jaquan Doby, an individualized studies major, of Margaret Nance Hall.
Outstanding Student Organization Award – SAGE (Sexuality and Gender Equality), which supports and advocates for the LGBTQ+ community.
Outstanding Student Program Organization Award – Xi Phi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity for its Breaking the Bind program to deal with adverse childhood experiences.
College Panhellenic Council Woman of the Year – Macy Gate, a social work major and member of Delta Zeta sorority.
National Panhellenic Council Man of the Year – Dyron Clark Jr., a biology major and member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
National Panhellenic Council Woman of the Year – Baten King, an instrumental music major and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Interfraternity Council Man of the Year – Casey Green, a biology major and member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Grant Scurry Dedication Award – Erykah Velasquez, a psychology major, who is a facility supervisor at the West Center.
Exemplary Service by an Individual Award – Bernard Hasan, a business administration major, who volunteered to serve on the MLK Service Week planning committee and organized events off campus, as well as a campus vigil.
Wellness Advocate Award – Jessica Hudgens, outreach coordinator and staff counselor in Winthrop Counseling Services, who organized a successful Out of the Darkness Walk to bring awareness for suicide prevention.
Wellness Alliance Award – Karen Medlin, test center operations manager, who has created study space for students that is safe, quiet and accessible, and is working towards reducing food insecurity and helping supply menstrual supplies, sometimes using her own money.
Outstanding Student Employee Award – Rayonna Freeman, a mass communication major who works in the dean of students’ office.
Graduate Assistant/Associate Rising Star Award – Bethany Seltzer, who is finishing her M.Ed. in counseling and development and works in the New Student and Family Programs office.
Fred Angerman Quality Staff Award – Winthrop University Police Department Chief Charles Yearta, who has managed his department during critical staffing issues, who has built important relationships with community partners and who works to ensure the safety of students and others on a daily basis and during special events, such as Homecoming.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or longshawj@winthrop.edu.
