Dear Winthrop Friend:
You are cordially invited to attend Winthrop University's Aug. 20 Convocation ceremony
at 3 p.m. in Byrnes Auditorium.
This ceremony will officially usher in Winthrop's 133rd year as a higher education
institution. Convocation also serves as an official welcome to new freshmen and transfer
students and their induction into the Winthrop community of learners.
Melissa Gladden '99, the founder and owner of Carolina Recruitment, will deliver the
Convocation keynote speech on her experiences as a successful business woman. In 2015,
the U.S. Small Business Association selected her as the South Carolina Small Business
Person of the Year. In 2016, she was honored by the Charlotte Business Journal as
one of the Top 25 Women in Business.
Immediately following Convocation, Laura and I will lead students out of Byrnes and
toward the campus front lawn in the traditional Blue Line procession. The community
picnic will follow on the lawn in front of Margaret Nance Hall.
Please make plans to join us for Convocation and the picnic that follows. We are excited
about kicking off another successful academic year!
Please RSVP to president@winthrop.edu by Monday, Aug. 13.
