April Hershey, an alumna from the classes of 1999 and 2011, talks about her time as a Winthrop student.
Hershey is currently working on an MBA and is working as the Executive Assistant for the CEO of a company in Charlotte. Before that, Hershey worked at Winthrop University as an administrator for 20 years and worked with the Lutheran Campus Ministry.
During her time at Winthrop, Hershey was involved in Model United Nations and its annual conference.
“My favorite memories from college usually center around the annual Model United Nations conference, as I was heavily involved in that all four years, as well as the time spent with the friends that I made through those annual conference experiences,” Hershey said. “I even got to be on CN2 to talk about the conference my junior year.”
Before coming to Winthrop between high school and college, Hershey spent one year overseas working.
“Because of my recent stint living in Germany before coming to Winthrop, I immediately got involved with the then International Club, Model United Nations, and Lutheran Campus Ministry,” Hershey said. “I loved getting to know the international students [and] all about their home countries and culture.”
While being a part of Model UN, Hershey had the opportunity to visit New York City with a fellow classmate and friend.
“We took the Amtrak from Charlotte to Penn Station and traipsed all over lower Manhattan for three days while gathering information, ideas, and inspiration on how to improve and grow Winthrop’s Model UN.” Hershey said.
Hersey wishes that she did not work as much and had taken advantage of on campus housing longer while being a student at Winthrop.
“I wished I had worked less and enjoyed more of the freedom that being in college full time allows some students,” Hershey said. “Instead of being so anxious to be on my own, I wish I had lived on campus longer and taken advantage of a more carefree lifestyle rather than being saddled with rent and utilities once I moved off campus.”
One thing that Hershey wishes she had done before graduating was taking a financial literacy class.
“It was something that could have helped prepare me for how to understand job benefits, income taxes, deductions from my paycheck, and what a 401K is,” Hershey said.
Hershey believes that current Winthrop students should take advantage of the Rock Hill area while they are students.
“Get off campus every now and then and get to know your surroundings,” Hershey said. “Investigate the history. Just because Rock Hill is not Charleston does not mean that it does not have a rich history as does the low country. 20 years from now, people will ask you questions about Winthrop, Rock Hill, Charlotte, and this time. Cultivate some stories and memories to share.”
Hershey graduated with a Bachelor of Science in political science in 1999 and obtained her Master of Liberal Arts in 2011.
As a Winthrop alumna, Hershey continues to stay involved by attending Homecoming events and donating to Winthrop.
“I am in touch with other alumni on almost a daily basis,” Hershey said.
