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Download one of the free digital Winthrop backgrounds for virtual alumni events or for your personal use! Wear your garnet and gold attire to show your Eagle pride for both in-person and virtual activities! Purchase Winthrop gear in the bookstore on campus or online here!
*All event times are Eastern unless otherwise noted.
"The Frozen River" by Ariel Lawhon
Jan. 2 - March 6
The first book for the 2026 Virtual Alumni Book Club is "The Frozen River" by Ariel Lawhon.
Inspired by the life of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into history. Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town's most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.
The reading period is Jan. 2 - March 6. Click here to read a summary and reviews for it. Join the Virtual Alumni Book Club by signing up at www.pbc.guru/winthrop.
Program kicked off Monday, Sept. 29, 2025 and will run through Friday, March 27, 2026
Winthrop Connect (Virtual)
The I'm Ready program connects Winthrop alumni with current students for one-on-one mentoring focused on career readiness, networking, and personal growth. Through four structured micro-sessions across the academic year, mentors and mentees engage in meaningful conversations designed to build confidence and professional experiences.
If are interested in learning more about the I'm Ready program, serving as an alumni mentor, or a student mentee contact Leah Simmonds '23, alumni career programs and Flight Ready QEP director, at simmondsl@winthrop.edu.
Tuesday, Feb. 17│7:30 p.m.
Byrnes Auditorium
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is recognized as one of the nation's leading professional orchestras and the ensemble will deliver a thrilling world-class performance that brings the full force and beauty of orchestral music to the stage. The event is coordinated by Winthrop University Department of Music and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Read more about the event here! Tickets are $15. Children 0-18 are free with a ticketed adult. Current Winthrop students can attend for free. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Purchase your tickets here.
Tuesday, Feb. 17 and Wednesday, Feb. 18│10 a.m.-3 p.m.
DiGiorgio Campus Center
If you are a degree-holding alumnus, a current student who has completed 54 credit hours, or a graduate student who has completed at least 18 hours at Winthrop University, you are eligible to purchase the Official Winthrop Ring and other Winthrop jewelry! Stop by our table in the DiGiorgio Campus Center to speak with Jostens representatives about your options, get sized, and purchase your Official Winthrop Ring. You can get up to $100 off your ring when you order at the table! The Student Alumni Council will welcome you at the table to provide more information about the Official Winthrop Ring and Spring Ring Ceremony.
Wednesday, Feb. 18 │6:30-7:30 p.m.
Zoom
Celebrate Black History Month with Winthrop Black history trivia, hosted by the Black Alumni Council. Join us on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Need a refresher on your knowledge of Winthrop's rich Black history? Read the 2025 edition of The Garnet & Gold Book, which holds all of Winthrop's history and traditions, and visit the Integration at Winthrop website.
Reserve your spot by Tuesday, Feb. 17. The Zoom link will be sent to registrants on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Wear your garnet and gold to show your Winthrop pride and check out Winthrop's virtual backgrounds for the Zoom. Follow the Black Alumni Council on Facebook and Instagram (winthropbac) to stay connected!
Tuesday, Feb. 24│ 6 p.m.
Zoom
Uncover a mystery frozen in time and join us on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. for a live conversation with Ariel Lawhon, the New York Times bestselling author of the current Virtual Alumni Book Club read, "The Frozen River." Inspired by the life of an 18th-century midwife, Martha Ballard, who defied the legal system, Ariel Lawhon crafted a clever, layered, and utterly thrilling story. "The Frozen River" introduces this unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were often silenced. Questions can be submitted for Ariel Lawhon about Martha Ballard, historical research, or the inspiration behind this tense and tender story. Don’t miss this powerful Author Talk about defying expectations and writing yourself into history. Register here!
Wednesday, Feb. 25│8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Richardson Ballroom, located in the DiGiorgio Campus Center
The School of Graduate, Continuing, and Online Education (SGCO)'s Winthrop Elevate program in partnership with the College of Business and Technology (CBT), is hosting a free symposium that will focus on career pathways, professional development and the evolving role of AI in the financial services sector. The event will feature panelists and invited guests with deep expertise across AI and the broader financial services space, providing valuable insights into current and emerging workforce trends. Learn more here!
Register to attend the symposium here by Wednesday, Feb. 18. Please note there is limited capacity. For questions, contact Dr. Pat Guilbaud, director and associate professor of Continuing Education and Summer School, at guilbaudp@winthrop.edu or the Winthrop Elevate office at elevate@winthrop.edu.
Thursday, Feb. 26│5:30-6:30 p.m.
Stones Throw Brewing
Calling all Eagle fans! Join us on Thursday, Feb. 26, for a pregame social before the Winthrop men's basketball team takes on the Charleston Southern Buccaneers in the Buc Dome! We'll gather at Stones Throw Brewing in Goose Creek from 5:30-6:30 p.m. before tip-off at 7 p.m. Food and drink available for purchase. Register here to let us know you're coming. Purchase your game ticket here to cheer on the Eagles!
Tuesday, March 3│10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-6 p.m.
Winthrop Bookstore Commons
Graduating in May? Grad Finale is your one-stop-shop for all things Commencement! Stop by the Bookstore Commons located inside the bookstore in the DiGiorgio Campus Center for all your Commencement needs. The event is hosted by the Student Alumni Council and the Alumni Association, and features campus partners and vendors so graduates can check their graduation status, learn about alumni benefits, purchase class rings, try on regalia, and more!
Tuesday, March 3│4-6 p.m.
Lefty’s West End Tavern
Calling all Eagle fans! Join us on Tuesday, March 3, for a pregame social before the Winthrop baseball team takes on the Michigan State Spartans at Fluor Field! We'll gather at Lefty’s West End Tavern, which is adjacent to Fluor Field, from 4-6 p.m. before the game begins at 6 p.m. Food and drink available for purchase. Register here by Friday, Feb. 27, to let us know you're coming and be sure to purchase your game ticket here to cheer on the Eagles!
Saturday, March 14│11:30 a.m.
Springdale Hall
The annual Kershaw County Alumni Luncheon will be hosted on Saturday, March 14, at Springdale Hall. All Kershaw County alumni are invited for an afternoon of networking and delicious food. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. with networking, which includes beer, wine, tea and coffee, followed by a buffet lunch at 12:30 p.m. Dr. Amanda James, vice president for enrollment management and marketing, will serve as the guest speaker and provide updates from campus. The cost is $35 per person to attend. Business attire. Parking is available onsite. Please note that there is a 100-person capacity at Springdale Hall, so registration is limited. Register here by Friday, March 6.
Saturday, March 14│3:14:15 p.m.
Winthrop Lake
Make plans to participate in the Math department's 3rd annual πK Fun Run on Saturday, March 14 at the Winthrop Lake at 3:14:15pm! The fun run is pi km, which is approximately 1.96 miles, and the perfect distance for the whole family! Registration is $30 for adults and $15 for students or anyone under 18. There is a virtual option and a runner with no shirt option. All proceeds raised go towards math outreach to the Rock Hill community. Register here! For questions, e-mail Dr. Jessie A. Hamm, professor of Mathematics, at hammj@winthrop.edu.
Wednesday, March 25-Friday, March 27, 2026
The 50th Anniversary Winthrop University Model United Nations (WUMUN) Conference and Celebration will be held on Winthrop's campus, March 25-27, 2026. A special 50th anniversary reception will be held on Thursday, March 26 from 7-10 p.m. in the Evans Room, located on the third floor of the DiGiorgio Campus Center. Prior to the reception, afternoon tours of your favorite Model UN Committees will take place during the Third Committee Session from 4:30-6 p.m. Tours will depart every 30 minutes from the Model UN registration table, located in the lobby of Richardson Ballroom on the first floor of the DiGiorgio Campus Center.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Model UN, our goal is to endow a scholarship fund in honor of Dr. Chris Van Aller, our 24-year Model UN Program Director. Please consider a gift to support our efforts even if you cannot attend the 50th anniversary celebration. You can make your gift safely and securely online in honor of Dr. Van Aller here.
Please register to attend the anniversary reception and tours by Friday, March 13. For questions, contact Dr. Jennifer Disney via e-mail at disneyj@winthrop.edu.
Wednesday, April 8│6-7:30 p.m.
Richardson Ballroom, located in the DiGiorgio Campus Center
The Alumni Association and Student Alumni Council present the Official Ring Ceremony. Rings will be presented to students who purchased their Official Winthrop Ring in the spring semester. Recipients are encouraged to invite family and friends to help celebrate this milestone. Purchase your official Winthrop ring as a lifelong reminder of your Winthrop experience by shopping the Jostens website, calling 800/854-7464, or attending Ring Days on campus.
April 17-18
Calling all Greek alumni! Get ready to show off your letters during a weekend full of chapter gatherings, events for alumni and students and more. Registration will open soon!
Tuesday, June 2│11 a.m-2 p.m.
Greenville Convention Center | Greenville, SC
Alumni are invited to attend HireSouthCarolina Multi-University Alumni Career Fair on Tuesday, June 2. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet hiring managers and recruiters from area leading employers who are actively hiring for full-time positions across experience levels. Leading employers from: finance & investment banking, technology & innovation, healthcare & life sciences, marketing & media, consulting & professional services, education & non-profits, engineering & manufacturing, and government & public sector. Register now and prepare to connect with companies eager to meet you!
