Winthrop University

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Winthrop University (formerly Winthrop College) is an American public, four-year liberal arts college in Rock Hill, South Carolina, within the greater Metrolina (NC / SC) area. In 2003, Winthrop University had an enrollment of about 6,500 students.

History

Winthrop was founded in 1886 in Columbia, SC by then superintendent David Bancroft Johnson as a teacher training college to help build the state school system in the aftermath of the American Civil War. The founding class of 21 women met in a one-room building in Columbia. In 1895, Winthrop moved and made its permanent home in Rock Hill. The name "Winthrop" comes from the man who made the first contribution of $1,500 - Massachusetts philanthropist John C. Winthrop; enough to rent the original one-room building. It was integrated in 1964 and became a co-ed institution in 1972. Winthrop has undergone several name changes through its history, Winthrop Training School, 1886, South Carolina Industrial and Winthrop Normal College in 1891, Winthrop Normal and Industrial College of South Carolina in 1894, Winthrop College (The South Carolina College for Women) in 1920, Winthrop College in 1974, and Winthrop University in 1992. While the school now has a large variety of majors, it is still widely known for the quality of teachers that train and get their degree there.

Ronald Reagan visited Winthrop in 1992 to see the Tau Kappa Epsilon chapter.

Andie MacDowell attended Winthrop (as Winthrop College) in 1977 and dropped out as a sophomore in 1978 to sign with Elite Model Management.

Reginald Lloyd, US District Attorney for South Carolina, graduated from Winthrop in 1989.

Athletics

Winthrop University athletic teams compete on the NCAA Division 1 level and are a member of the Big South Conference. Winthrop athletic teams are known by the nickname "Eagles". The teams' colors are garnet and gold. The athletic department offices are located in the 6,100-seat Winthrop Coliseum located 1 mile from the University's main campus.

The Winthrop University men's basketball team has earned a slot in the NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Tournament in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, and 2006 They have also won the Big South Conference Championship title in 1988, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2006. In 2006, the men's basketball team's season ended with a close loss to the University of Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The men's baseball team has earned Big South Conference Titles in 1995, 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2005. They have earned a slot in the 1995, 1999, 2001, 2005 and 2006 NCAA Regionals.

The women's volleyball team has earned a slot in the NCAA Tournament in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. They were Big South Conference Tournament Champions in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.

External links

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