Winthrop Seniors Honored with Sunbelt Rentals Scholarships

Quick Facts

Established in August 2008, the Sunbelt Rentals Scholarship program recognizes the work done in the classroom, campus and the community by students within the Big South Conference.

A committee of Big South Conference administrators, Sunbelt Rentals executives and institutional representatives from Big South Conference institutions selected the recipients of the Sunbelt Rentals scholarships.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Winthrop seniors Dejon Bivens of Charlotte, N.C., and Crystal Gonzalez of Sumter, S.C., have been chosen as the recipients of the Big South Conference’s Sunbelt Rentals Scholarship. The two will each receive $2,000 from Sunbelt Rentals toward their final semester as an undergraduate.

Both students will be presented their awards by Sunbelt Rentals at tonight’s 7 p.m. Charleston Southern-Winthrop men’s basketball game. The game will be televised regionally on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) as well as video streamed on the Big South Network presented by State Farm.

Established in August 2008, the Sunbelt Rentals Scholarship program recognizes the work done in the classroom, campus and the community by students within the Big South Conference. To qualify, students must be enrolled in a Big South Conference member institution and entering their final semester as an undergraduate. The students must be of an underrepresented population including women, minority groups, disabled students, and/or current and former military personnel.

“Sunbelt Rentals is proud to be able to provide scholarship money to students that have worked hard in and out of the classroom,” said Kenny May, director of leadership development for Sunbelt Rentals. “Dejon and Crystal, as well as all of the students that applied for our scholarship, have extremely bright futures, and we wish them continued success as they begin a new chapter in their lives after graduation.”

“I’m really thankful that Sunbelt Rentals is developing our community with this scholarship and I am really humbled by this award,” said Bivens, who is majoring in political science and is a member of the Winthrop men’s tennis team. “Both Winthrop and the Big South certainly prepared me for this opportunity by developing me as a leader. I am truly honored.”

Gonzalez added: “I would like to thank the Big South Conference and Sunbelt Rentals for this scholarship and providing money for my last semester of school,” said Gonzalez, who is obtaining a bachelor of science in athletic training. “I enjoyed my time at Winthrop University and as a Big South student. I am thrilled I will be able to offset some of my expenses for college.”

A committee of Big South Conference administrators, Sunbelt Rentals executives and institutional representatives from Big South Conference institutions selected the recipients of the Sunbelt Rentals scholarships.

ABOUT SUNBELT RENTALS:
Sunbelt Rentals, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ashtead Group plc, is one of the largest equipment rental companies in the United States. Sunbelt is based Fort Mill, S.C., and provides equipment rental solutions for the industrial, construction and municipal markets, plus the DIY markets, from its network of locations covering in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Sunbelt's extensive equipment fleet includes a wide range of general construction and industrial equipment, and is further broadened by specialty businesses serving the Pump, Power, Trench Shoring and Scaffold markets.

ABOUT THE BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE:
Founded in 1983, the Big South Conference has matured into a competitive leader in college athletics, actively pursuing excellence on the field of play and in the classroom. Comprised of 10 member institutions throughout the Southeast, the Big South Conference continues to succeed on the field through its 18 championship sports while intentionally fostering the academic, personal, social, athletic and leadership development of its student-athletes. The institutions of the Big South Conference – Charleston Southern University, Coastal Carolina University, Gardner-Webb University, High Point University, Liberty University, Presbyterian College, Radford University, UNC Asheville, Virginia Military Institute and Winthrop – have a remarkable history of achievement, and will welcome back charter member Campbell University in 2011-12.

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