Alumni Speak On "Achieving The Dream"

 ROCK HILL, S.C. - Winthrop University’s African-American alumni will tell their stories in a Feb. 15 program called “Achieving the Dream.”

Sponsored by the Office of Alumni Relations and the Office of Multicultural Life, the event will allow nine former campus leaders to talk about how their achievements through the years provided the strong foundation that supports Winthrop's culture of diversity today. The speakers represent different generations, having attended Winthrop within the last 40 years.

The 7:30 p.m. program will be held in Dina’s Place in the DiGiorgio Campus Center.

The panelists are:

Dr. Cynthia P. Roddey '67
The first African American to graduate from Winthrop. Roddey served as the advisor to the Xi Beta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She also served on the first Black Alumni Advisory Committee.

Delores Hurt '68
Hurt was one of Winthrop's first undergraduate African-American students. She participated in WINR (Winthrop Radio). She was also a Fullbright -Hayes Fellow and a student marshal. Hurt went on to become a broadcast journalist in New York City and a small business owner in Columbia, S.C. She currently teaches in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System.

Sheila McMillian '73
At Winthrop, McMillan was president of the Association of Ebonites and an RA in Bancroft. Later, she became the first African American on the Winthrop Board of Trustees and served as a state officer of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Charlene Sullivan Davis '80
Davis was part of the Charter Line of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. As an alumna, she served as the chair of the Black Alumni Council from 1998-2000.

Danny K. Davis '80
Davis was a member of the Charter Line of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He also served on the Black Alumni Council from 1994-98.

Timothy Hopkins '83, '85
Hopkins currently serves as president-elect of the Alumni Association. He has served on the Winthrop Annual Fund Loyalty Council and is also a former president of the Kershaw County Alumni Chapter.

Jill Mitchell Powell '84, '86
Powell served as a vice president of Delta Sigma Theta and a member of the Black Alumni Council. She became Winthrop's first director of minority student life.

Byron Putman '94
As a student, Putman was president of Richardson Hall Council, a member of the Resident Student Association, Alpha Epsilon Rho (Mass Communication Honor Society), and Omega Psi Phi.

Marilyn Martin '00
Martin serves as the current chair of the Black Alumni Council and as the Alumni Affinity Group representative of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.