The 2010 Alumni Awards were presented during the Alumni Reunion Celebration Luncheon on May 15, 2010. This year's recipients were Jean Kirby Plowden '55 (Mary Mildred Sullivan Award) and John Paul “Jay” Dowd III '89 (Alumni Professional Achievement Award). The Outstanding Young Alumni Award and the Alumni Distinguished Service Award were not presented during this event.
Mary Mildred Sullivan Award Citation
Jean Louise Kirby Plowden, Class of 1955, through your distinguished connection with Winthrop University, you have greatly contributed to making this institution a better place. You are a perfect example of a Winthrop graduate, a person that achieves high standing in her community after graduation. Winthrop University and the Alumni Association consider it a true honor to award you the 2010 Mary Mildred Sullivan Award.
Your love of God, your church, your family, your community and Winthrop is evident in everything you do. You credit your sister, Nell Kirby Player, for rearing you and making many sacrifices on your behalf. She imbued you with a kind heart and a generous spirit, as evidenced by the time, effort, abilities and finances you have contributed to the next generation of Winthrop students. Your home is always open to Winthrop alumni, particularly those from the Class of 1955.
As “Rock Hill’s Free Florist,” you have provided beautiful arrangements from your bountiful flower and vegetable gardens to numerous weddings, receptions and meetings across York County. St. John’s United Methodist Church, York County Museum and Mothers Against Drunk Drivers are among the groups to have benefitted from your participation.
As an education major at Winthrop, you have worked throughout the Rock Hill community to further the education of young people. Through your family business, Amida Industries, you helped start a tutoring service and science fair at Rawlinson Road Middle School. You also assisted in the support of Rock Hill’s first African American student at Winthrop and have established a student scholarship in her memory upon her passing last year. You also founded 18 other yearly endowments for students majoring in education. Those students won’t forget you and your husband Irwin’s generous gifts, particularly when visiting Plowden Auditorium in Withers/W.T.S. Building.
Jean Louise Kirby Plowden, we at Winthrop University thank you for the selfless dedication you have made in supporting the development of this university. Your enthusiasm and determination to live life to the fullest is an inspiration to your classmates and other alumni. With deep gratitude and appreciation, we say thank you for the honor you have brought to your alma mater.
Alumni Professional Achievement Award Citation
John Paul “Jay” Dowd III, Class of 1989, the Winthrop University Alumni Association is proud to honor your outstanding accomplishments in higher education administration by presenting you its 2010 Alumni Professional Achievement Award. You have enjoyed a successful 17-year career in higher education with 15 years serving as vice president at separate institutions.
This honor recognizes significant contributions alumni have made to their fields while exemplifying high moral and professional ethics. As vice president for development and executive director for the Francis Marion University Education Foundation, you have worked tirelessly in the areas of fundraising, alumni affairs, scholarship programs and numerous initiatives such as the Nonprofit Leadership Institute and Rural Area Leadership Initiative. During your tenure, you assisted Francis Marion in completing its first comprehensive campaign, the Campaign for Excellence, and securing more than $50.2 million toward a goal of $12 million.
Prior to Francis Marion, you served as vice president for advancement at Columbia College and at Methodist University in Fayetteville, N.C.
Born in Bennettsville, you excelled at Winthrop in baseball, as an Orientation assistant and as a member of the Student Alumni Council. Since graduation, you have since focused on leadership development in your field and on community service. Despite a busy professional schedule, you have demonstrated an emphasis on organizations that benefit children, the family and your church. You also continue to support your alma mater through assistance to Winthrop athletes and the Winthrop Fund.
Your endearing kindness, your strong intellect and your ability to forge multiple partnerships have coalesced to fuel your success, and all the while, your dedication to helping others has guided many students along paths of opportunity.
John Paul “Jay” Dowd III, throughout your illustrious career, you have maintained a deep and abiding respect for the value of education. The Winthrop University Alumni Association is proud to honor you as a graduate who has successfully drawn upon the Winthrop experience as a basis for continuous professional advancement and for community involvement.