Members of the Winthrop Women's Coalition established the scholarship. Students will be eligible for the funds starting with the 2018-19 school year.
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA -- A newly established scholarship will provide assistance
to selected Winthrop University students who are nearing graduation but may not have
the financial means to complete their degrees.
The Commencement Bridge Scholarship, established by the Winthrop Women's Coalition, will provide support to undergraduate students who are in or entering their last
year at Winthrop and who would be unable to finish their Winthrop degrees without
financial assistance.
Such students have often maxed out their college loan limits or are facing other financial
setbacks and need the monetary boost to meet graduation goals.
The coalition, founded by Winthrop First Lady Laura Mahony, has been supporting the needs of students since 2017 and works closely with university
officials to support the university's philanthropic priorities and strategic plan. Among the plan's key initiatives: to ensure financial stability and sustainability
by raising scholarship dollars for students.
The Commencement Bridge Scholarship, similar to other "last dollar" scholarship programs,
allows upperclassmen to cover remaining college costs when financial aid has been
exhausted or when emergencies arise.
"For some students, they are just an arm's length away from finishing their Winthrop
degree, and we think it's important to take away the stress of figuring out how to
fill that financial gap. The Commencement Bridge Scholarship was created by the coalition to help students who, due to an unforeseen financial
crisis, may be suddenly worried about how to pay for college expenses like books,
school supplies, and room and board. When a student is that close to his or her goal,
we have to be committed and diligent in ensuring they meet it," said Mahony.
The Commencement Bridge Scholarship will be available at the start of the 2018-19 school year to students who are in
good academic standing.
The coalition established the scholarship and received additional support from a $1,300
contribution from the Winthrop Retirees' Association.
About the Winthrop Women's Coalition:
The Winthrop Women's Coalition was founded on the idea that women's strength is at
its best when women work together and that a relationship with the institution is
mutually beneficial: the institution fosters the individual to succeed and the individual
helps to support the institution. In the coalition, one will find a connection to
other women of diverse personal and professional backgrounds, and opportunities for
personal and professional enrichment while helping to contribute to the university's
mission and philanthropic needs. To learn more about the coalition, go here.
For more information on this scholarship or the Winthrop Scholarship program, contact University Advancement at 803/323-2275.
