Sean Pennington

Graduate student Sean Pennington '25 encourages incoming students to step out of their comfort zone and embrace the many opportunities available at Winthrop.

That is how Pennington approached his college experience.

The Lexington, South Carolina, resident arrived at Winthrop as a Teaching Fellow with the goal of being a math teacher. Now, with an undergraduate degree in mathematics completed in May 2025, he is working on a master’s degree in educational studies with a graduation date of May 2026.

He still plans to work in education, but his focus has changed to pursuing a student affairs job in a college setting.

Pennington spent his last two semesters working as graduate assistant in Winthrop’s Fraternity and Sorority Life program, using his undergraduate experience as a member and president of Pi Kappa Phi.

Pennington said he initially pursued teaching high school mathematics because he was passionate about math and enjoyed school. His main reason for going into education was to help develop the next generation of leaders.

During his college experience, he found great mentors that made an impact and supported his growth. “Those relationships and my involvement throughout college allowed me to gain insight into the inner workings of a university,” Pennington said. “I had opportunities to engage with senior leadership and was consistently challenged to grow both personally and professionally. Those experiences showed me the powerful role higher education professionals play in shaping students beyond the classroom.”

He realized that working in higher education would allow him to have a broader and more holistic impact on students' leadership development and success. “I have a passion for supporting students and believe there are countless opportunities to help students grow while working in higher education,” he said.

In most of the organizations that Pennington volunteered with, he held a leadership role such as the Teaching Fellows. He also served as president of the Council of Student Leaders in 2024-25 and was the student liaison with the Board of Trustees. One of his awards of note was his selection as the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award recipient. 

Attending Winthrop was a family affair for the Pennington family. His older sister, Alexandra, graduated from Winthrop in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and in 2022 with a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. His twin sister, Savanna, graduated the same time as he did in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies and is currently working to obtain a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Winthrop.

Pennington found plenty of opportunities to stay busy and to have fun in college. 

One of his favorite things was playing intramural sports in the West Center. He enjoyed playing volleyball and pickleball with his friends and loved his physical education courses such as badminton, flying disc sports and racquetball. An outdoor class included a ski/snowboarding trip.

Other memorable experiences were horseback riding at the Anne Springs Close Greenway with other Close Scholars and participating in Delta Zeta’s Big Man on Campus philanthropy pageant where he won the title of Big Man on Campus and Mr. Philanthropic. Pennington even traveled to Japan on an international trip with the Close Scholars.

Attending Winthrop taught Pennington the importance of stepping outside his comfort zone to grow both personally and professionally. “Through my involvement in a variety of activities on and off campus, I built meaningful relationships and gained valuable perspective from people with different backgrounds and experiences,” he said. “I was able to try new things, lead, and learn from others to recognize that growth comes from pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.”