Latest Winthrop capital campaign closes at $50.9 million

Winthrop University’s latest capital campaign wrapped up this month with $50.9 million now in the coffers of the university’s foundation.

Distinction: The Campaign for Winthrop, the university’s only second-ever capital campaign, raised funds to support student scholarship and faculty endowments, in addition to academic programs, development and research programs and technology initiatives.

The largest amount of campaign contributions, $15.2 million, supported student scholarships, Winthrop University spokeswoman Meredith Carter said. Additional priorities included departmental awards, lectures and faculty support in addition to research and development opportunities.

The campaign “forged bonds that connected our donors, our faculty and staff, and, most important, our students,” said Winthrop University president Dan Mahony. “The individual and collective efforts of our dedicated supporters provided the resources that have increased Winthrop’s capacity to provide a learning and living experience in which we focus on the success of every student.”

One of the largest contributions to Distinction came from Vivian Carroll and her husband, Larry. In 2008, the couple committed $1.25 million to finance cutting-edge technology within the Vivian Moore Carroll Hall, a business and trading center within the College of Business Administration.

Additional major gifts to the Distinction campaign included: A commitment from Dalton and his wife, ’Becca, to expand the Environmental Sciences and Studies program and funds from the estate of Lois and John C. West that supports the John C. West Forum on Politics and Policy at Winthrop, which seeks to promote leadership and educate students to become engaged and effective citizens of South Carolina, and the Lois Rhame West Scholarship Endowment Fund, which assists South Carolina students with financial need.