Alumni Awards

Each fall, the Winthrop Alumni Association presents Alumni Awards to alumni who have demonstrated Winthrop's tradition of excellence. The Honors and Awards Committee of the Alumni Executive Board reviews nominations and selects winners annually for the Alumni Distinguished Service Award, Alumni Professional Achievement Award and Outstanding Young Alumni Award. An internal committee of Winthrop staff selects the recipients for the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award and Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.

 

2026 Alumni Award Recipients

 

2026 Alumni Awards

The 2026 Alumni Award recipients will be recognized at the Alumni Awards Celebration on Thursday, Nov. 12.
Read the press release about the 2026 Alumni Award recipients. 

 

Alumni Award Descriptions

  • Sullivan Awards

    • The Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Mary Mildred Sullivan Awards are the only national collegiate service awards. They have been presented since 1890 by the Sullivan Foundation to college students, faculty, staff, alumni and civic leaders who have distinguished themselves through service to others and their communities. The Sullivan Awards are the highest honor the Winthrop Alumni Association can bestow upon a graduate.

      • Mary Mildred Sullivan Award

        • Established at Winthrop in 1940, this award recognizes a Winthrop alumna for selfless dedication of time, energy, and talent in service to Winthrop and others.

      • Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award

        • The male equivalent of the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award. This award recognizes a Winthrop alumnus for selfless dedication of time, energy, and talent in service to Winthrop and others.

  • Alumni Distinguished Service Award

    • The recipient shall be a dedicated alumna/us who supports the growth and development of Winthrop University through their service to and/or support of programs and objectives established by the university, who significantly contributes to the quality of life in their community, the development of overall values and morals within others and serves as an outstanding citizen in their own right. Distinguished service may have been rendered with one's community, church, charity, family and school on a national, state or local level. 

  • Alumni Professional Achievement Award

    • The recipient shall be a dedicated alumna/us who supports the growth and development of Winthrop University and exemplifies an outstanding code of ethics, as well as the overall quality concept by which Winthrop University is governed. This award is presented to an alumna/us who has made significant contributions to his/her professional field while exemplifying high moral and business ethics. Nomination documentation should indicate the nominee's involvement in and advancement of their chosen profession or field endeavor. 

  • Outstanding Young Alumni Award

    • Recognizes a Winthrop alumna/us age 35 or younger whose service to Winthrop, service to the community and professional achievements have reflected positively on all alumni and the university.

2026 Alumni Award Recipients

 

Mary Mildred Sullivan Award

Mrs. Vivian Moore Carroll, Class of 1973Vivian Moore Carroll
Charlotte, North Carolina
Established in 1940, the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award recognizes a Winthrop alumna for selfless dedication of time, energy and talent in service to others.

Read Mrs. Carroll's bio.

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award

Mr. Tim SeaseTim Sease, Class of 1987
Johns Island, South Carolina

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award recognizes a Winthrop alumnus for selfless dedication of time, energy and talent in service to others.

Read Mr. Sease's bio.

Alumni Distinguished Service Award

Mr. Mike Smiley, Class of 1992Mike Smiley
Charlotte, North Carolina

The Alumni Distinguished Service Award recognizes a Winthrop alumna/us who significantly contributes to the quality of life in his or her community, the development of values and morals within others and serves as an outstanding citizen.

Read Mr. Smiley's bio.

Alumni Professional Achievement Award

Dr. Marsha Ford, Class of 1971Marsha Ford
Atlanta, Georgia
The Alumni Professional Achievement Award is presented to an alumna/us who has made significant contributions to his or her professional field while exemplifying high moral and business ethics.

Read Dr. Ford's bio.

Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Jordan LewisDr. Jordan Lewis, Class of 2017
Orangeburg, South Carolina

The Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes a Winthrop alumna/us age 35 or younger whose service to the university, service to the community and professional achievements have reflected positively on all alumni and the university.

Read Dr. Lewis's bio.

Award Archives

2025 Recipients
2024 Recipients
2023 Recipients
2022 Recipients
2021 Recipients
2020 Recipients
2019 Recipients
2018 Recipients
2017 Recipients