HIGHLIGHTS

• Seniors Olivia Spivey and Dylan Thomas won top awards at the recent Student Life Awards ceremony.
• Students, faculty and staff were celebrated for their outstanding efforts during the 2025-26 year.

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA - Two seniors who worked as resident assistants captured top honors at the 2026 Winthrop University Student Life Awards ceremony on April 15 at the DiGiorgio Campus Center.

Olivia "Liv" Spivey, a senior special education major from North Augusta, South Carolina, was presented the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award for her extraordinary impact on Winthrop and the surrounding community. A third-year resident assistant and a Teaching Fellow, Spivey has completed a full-time internship at Hunter Street Elementary school in York, South Carolina. To reach her goal of becoming a special education teacher, she has obtained many additional teaching certifications.

Dylan Thomas, a senior English major from Chapin, South Carolina, was presented the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. He has worked as a resident assistant for three years and worked hard to build an amazing community on his floor. He mentored first-year students as a peer mentor, served as risk manager for Pi Kappa Phi and as a Reed Fellow for the Learning Excellent Academic Practices (LEAP) program where he worked on program curriculum for mentoring and academic coaching. Beyond Winthrop, he developed proposed materials for the Department of Energy contracts as an intern.

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Mary Mildred Sullivan awards are presented annually to deserving individuals at more than 70 colleges and universities. The awards recognize individuals who demonstrate noble character and act as humble servants.

The prestigious American Legion Award, which recognizes those who demonstrate courage, character, service and scholarship, was given to two students. Tia Pittman, a senior early childhood major from Blythewood, South Carolina, has been president for the past two years of the Winthrop Ambassadors. She has welcomed thousands of guests with warmth, professionalism and enthusiasm, and mentored young members.

Benjamin Byrd, a senior political science major from Mauldin, South Carolina, has served as a resident assistant, a peer mentor, Model United Nations Coordinator General and student government representative. He has served in internships in the U.S. House of Representatives and has an upcoming internship with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Additional awards presented were:

The Community Engagement and Belonging Award - Tuesday Lewis-Phillips, a junior educational studies major with a concentration in special education and elementary education from Abilene, Texas, and Jurnee Sweat, a junior social work major from North Charleston, South Carolina, both created opportunities to promote community.

Active Bystander Award - Aaron Good, a sophomore elementary education major with a minor in outdoor leadership from Columbia, South Carolina, witnessed a situation this semester that could have been a Title IX incident and stepped in to stop inappropriate behavior from escalating.

Gloria Godfrey Jones Outstanding Tutor Award - Zoe Jackson, a junior biology major with minors in chemistry and educational studies, from Columbia, South Carolina, who is completing her third semester as a tutor with the Academic Success Center, helps students understand living systems and cell molecular biology.

Cynthia Cassens Resident Assistant of the Year Award - Olivia "Liv" Spivey, a senior special education major from North Augusta, has shown outstanding efforts in the Courtyard and Lee Wicker residence halls where she was assigned.

Outstanding Student Organization Award - the Latines Unidos sponsored Latin Dance Night and Viaje a Latin America to provide opportunities for the campus to learn about Latin American cultures.

Outstanding Student Organization Program Award - "At Winthrop As It Is in Heaven," organized by Winthrop Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) and Winthrop Vision of Prayze. The two campus ministry groups gathered diverse student audiences to foster unity, build relationships and to provide students an opportunity to connect.

Greek Student Leaders of the Year - Ellie Mitchell, a junior majoring in logistics and supply chain management from Inman, South Carolina, is the chapter president of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. The second recipient was Tylique Smith, a senior business administration major with a minor in risk assurance with a concentration in accounting from Harleyville, South Carolina, and president of the Psi Kappa Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Grant Scurry Dedication Award - David Johnson, a senior exercise science major from North Augusta, South Carolina, started at the West Center as an attendant and was promoted to facility supervisor.

Exemplary Service by an Individual Award - Jasmine Washington, a junior elementary education major from Irmo, South Carolina, completed 188 hours of community service at Richmond Drive Elementary School, York County Children's Museum and the Manna House.

Organization with Exemplary Record of Service - Alpha Delta Pi contributed to campus life through service projects, community engagement and participation in university events.

Elizabeth Hope Reed Fellowship Award - Reed Fellows are outstanding LEAP alumni who then coach and mentor current participants. These three had exceptional experiences: Kyra Bacon, senior psychology major with a minor in humanities from Clover, South Carolina; Savannah Stiltner, a senior business administration major with a concentration in health care management from Lugoff, South Carolina; and Dylan Thomas, a senior English major from Chapin, South Carolina. They also are part of the inaugural class of Reed Fellows.

Wellness Alliance Award - Kanisha Rollings, director of new student and family programs, has demonstrated impactful leadership, a collaborative spirit and a student-centered approach to elevate wellness initiatives.

Wellness Advocate Award - Itali Jackson, program coordinator with the Center for Student Wellness, has educated students on the sensitive issue of sexual assault and relationship violence through creative, thoughtful and engaging programming.

Outstanding Student Employee Award - Savyur Young, a sophomore business administration major from Elgin, South Carolina, worked with the Center for Career Development and Internships, where he brings a positive attitude in managing social media projects such as the Internship Spotlight segment on Instagram.

Graduate Assistant/Associate Rising Star Award - Ian Gresham, a Bristow, Virginia, resident who is working on his M.B.A. in business management with a concentration in marketing was cited for his incredible impact during a rebuilding year for the DiGiorgio Student Union (DSU) and in helping with major initiatives such as the 50th anniversary celebration.

Fred Angerman Award - Phyllis Redden, a Winthrop alumna, works at the information desk in the DiGiorgio Campus Center and sees her work as more than a job. She understands that systems, services, spaces and programs all shape the student experience, and she works intentionally to strengthen that experience with an eye to detail. For instance, she coordinates vendor fairs, poster sales and helped organize the institution's first off-campus housing fair for upperclassmen.

Faculty Student Life Award - Katarina Moyon, senior instructor and College of Arts and Sciences external relations coordinator, worked with the Center for Career Development and Internships on cultivating more internships. She worked with staff to pilot an Industry Meet Up this spring for sociology, criminology and anthropology majors. Thirteen employers and 63 students came together for the successful event, which allowed faculty to make contacts in industry. The event may become a template for other areas.

Outstanding Student Assistant Award - Samantha Pean, a senior special education major from Fort Mill, South Carolina, is the student assistant in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and an inaugural recipient of this award. Even with a full-time internship, she has stepped into consequential work with remarkable maturity and excellence and juggled events, candidate events application reviews, etc.

For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or [email protected].