Photo courtesy of Winthrop University
Convocation this year changed pace by shuttling the freshman class in the new My Ride Rock Hill bus system. The students were taken to convocation which was held at the Winthrop Coliseum instead of Byrnes Auditorium, which is still under renovation following a roof fire in 2018.
Tim Drueke, assistant vice president for academic affairs, said that the coliseum was the “only other option on campus” for convocation because of Byrnes’ undergoing renovations.
The event began with the processional led by Justin Isenhour, who directed the Winthrop Faculty Brass Quintet, which was immediately followed by the singing of the National Anthem by NeTorrian Patton.
Afterwards, Winthrop President Dan Mahony took the stage to welcome those in attendance and to introduce the mayor of Rock Hill, John Gettys. Gettys addressed the audience about opportunity for growth both within the student body of Winthrop as well as the city of Rock Hill.
Rock Hill is experiencing growth and new opportunity not previously seen in the ongoing efforts to make the city more of a college town, to revive downtown and to prepare for the future headquarters for the Carolina Panthers, citizens of Rock Hill and Winthrop students have a lot to look forward to.
Following Gettys, Winthrop Student Body President Imani Belton gave a speech about her time at Winthrop. She recalled feeling overwhelmed and alone her first year and her previous plans to transfer out of Winthrop. Belton said that becoming involved and allowing herself time to grow is what made her fall in love with Winthrop again.
Adolphus Belk Jr. led the greetings from the faculty. He spoke on the environment needed to succeed and thrive. Belk referenced Proverbs 27:17, which includes the phrase “iron sharpens iron” which alludes to how the right peer group can help or harm a person’s growth.
The main speaker of this year’s convocation was Winthrop alumnus Jay Karen, Class of ’96. Karen is the CEO of National Golf Course Owners Association. He told anecdotes from his past and explained how saying “yes” to different situations has made him who he is today.
Karen started with saying “yes” in middle school when a girl asked him to the Sadie Hawkins dance, which gave him the confidence to become more involved in academics and student government. Karen received a full ride scholarship to Winthrop in 1992 and said “yes” to Winthrop. He then said “yes” to Greek life, which led him to his first job outside of college.
Karen recalled that everything he said “yes” to came together when his boss advised him to pursue his daughter. Karen said “yes” to that opportunity and married Winthrop alumnus Carrie Lyndrup, Class of ’99.
The convocation of 2019 ended with closing statements by Mahony, who thanked the speakers for their time and insight and wished the incoming class well in beginning their journey at Winthrop. This was followed by the singing of the Alma Mater, after which the Blue Line procession began.
The Blue Line is one of Winthrop’s oldest traditions which was created by former Winthrop President David Bancroft Johnson. The Blue Line tradition which originally was students dressed in their white and blue uniforms walking to church, which now has been replaced with blue T-shirts and students walking to the convocation ceremony. After the Blue Line commenced, the students walked to the lawn of the coliseum to visit different clubs and organizations on campus that were tabling, and for a picnic with their new fellow peers.
Campus organizations set up tables outside of the Coliseum to meet new students, to give out information about what they do and to generate interest.
Drueke said that he was “very pleased with the convocation and the picnic,” adding that the coliseum was a good venue for convocation and that the picnic “went well” in spite of the heat.
“I was very happy that most of the new students were in attendance,” Drueke said.
