The Alumni Association offers a number of events and activities to keep Winthrop alumni engaged throughout the year. Follow the Alumni Association on Facebook, Instagram (@winthropalumni) and Winthrop Connect for updates on alumni events!
Use one of the free digital Winthrop backgrounds for virtual events and wear your garnet and gold attire to show your Eagle pride for both in-person and virtual activities!
*All event times are Eastern unless otherwise noted.
"Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work" by David Isay
Oct. 11 - Dec. 13
The fifth book for the 2025 Virtual Alumni Book Club is "Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work" by David Isay and is also the 2025-2026 Common Book Project, which is a book selected that all incoming freshmen read the summer before they enter Winthrop. Throughout their freshman year, students will discuss the book’s themes of purpose, vocation, and meaningful work. The book was selected in part to align with Winthrop’s Quality Enhancement Plan, "Flight Ready," which aims to integrate career readiness across the university curriculum.
StoryCorps founder Dave Isay presents unforgettable stories from people doing what they love. Some are paid well for their work, others not at all; some found their paths at a very young age, others later in life; many overcame great odds or upturned their lives in order to pursue what matters to them. These stories were collected over the past two years as part of a national outreach campaign, a first for StoryCorps, and most have never been published or broadcast until now.
The reading period is Oct. 11 - Dec. 13. 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.
Friday, Dec. 5 | 6 p.m.
Front Lawn of Tillman Hall
A beloved Winthrop tradition, the 90th Annual Tree Lighting will include performances by the Winthrop RockHettes, the Winthrop Chorale and Collegiate Choir and the countdown to lighting the front lawn. Help celebrate the beginning of the holiday season by joining us for this tradition, which pays homage to the historic Southern Magnolia tree on front campus. To preserve the health of the tree, the flagpole at the fountain is now lit.
The Student Alumni Council will sell luminaries for $5 before the tree lighting to add to the holiday glow around Tillman. Proceeds from the luminaries will support the Winthrop Fund.
Can’t attend in person? Tune into the live feed via the Alumni Association Facebook page.
Wednesday, Dec. 17 | 3-5 p.m.
President's House
Cheers to the Class of 2025! December graduates are invited to the President's House on Wednesday, Dec. 17 from 3-5 p.m. to celebrate Commencement. Enjoy light hors d'oeuvres, write a letter to your future self and more! At 4 p.m., the class gift will be presented and President Serna '02 will lead the toast.
Registration for this event closed Dec. 3. For questions, e-mail Brandon Partyka, student and young alumni program coordinator, at partykab@winthrop.edu.
Friday, Dec. 19 | 4-5 p.m.
Morgan-Holcombe Alumni Center at the Stewart House
Legacy students graduating in December and their family members are invited to celebrate their accomplishments at the Morgan-Holcombe Alumni Center! Enjoy hors d'oeuvres with the alumni team, Alumni Executive Board and President Edward Serna '02. We will toast to your accomplishments and present graduates with a commemorative token to wear at Commencement. Register here by Friday, Dec. 12. For questions, e-mail Maggie McPherson, associate director of alumni engagement, at mcphersonm@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 3rd floor of the DiGiorgio Campus Center.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Model UN, a scholarship fund in honor of the 24-year Model UN Program Director, Dr. Chris Van Aller, is being established. If you would like to support this effort, you can make your gift safely and securely online in honor of Dr. Van Aller here.
Registration will open in early 2026. For questions, contact Dr. Jennifer Disney via e-mail at disneyj@winthrop.edu.
