Winthrop Receives Largest All-Cash Gift in University's History in Honor of Late Educator (04/14/26)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The family of the late Virginia Bellune Collier '30 made the gift in her honor, ensuring $2 million will go toward teacher education scholarships, preferably in STEM disciplines, and $500,000 will fund a professorship in the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Collier had long held the dream of becoming a doctor, but due to the era in which she lived, Collier pivoted to teaching.

OCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA - Winthrop University has received the largest all-cash gift in its history, a remarkable $2.5 million that will create teacher education scholarships and fund a professorship.

The family of the late Virginia Bellune Collier '30 made the gift in her honor, ensuring $2 million will go toward teacher education scholarships, preferably in STEM disciplines, and $500,000 will fund a professorship in the College of Arts and Sciences.

"We are deeply grateful for this historic gift and appreciate Ms. Collier's family's commitment to teacher education and learning at Winthrop. Their generosity shows how a Winthrop education reverberates throughout generations. The education that Ms. Collier received here nearly a century ago prepared her to share her love of the sciences to untold numbers of high school students," said President Edward Serna '02. "The Collier family scholarships will remove financial barriers for Winthrop students, who will be well prepared to engage and empower the next generation of learners, just as Ms. Collier did."

Beth Costner, dean of the Richard W. Riley College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences, said this remarkable gift affirms the power of investing in those who choose to teach.

"By supporting future educators - particularly in high-need STEM disciplines - we are not only changing the lives of Winthrop students today, but also strengthening schools and communities for years to come," she said. "The legacy of this generosity will be felt in every student our graduates inspire."

Takita Sumter, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said the college deeply appreciates the gift as there is a key goal of expanding the number of professorships.

"Professorships allow faculty to be more creative in their teaching and research endeavors and ultimately expose students to cutting-edge practices," she said. "We are thrilled about the benefit that this donation will offer to faculty and students."

About Virginia Bellune Collier '30

Collier had long held the dream of becoming a doctor.

Born in Georgetown in 1909, Collier showed an abiding interest in biology while a student at Winthrop College, The South Carolina College for Women, pre-Great Depression, serving as president of the Forceps and Scalpel Club and a member of Beta Beta Beta, a professional society for students of the biological sciences. Due to the era in which she lived, Collier pivoted to teaching, and she taught biology and chemistry at Andrews High School until retirement. Her passion for biology and medicine never wavered, and she found many outlets, including owning a flower shop, working in the local drugstore with her husband and tending to her half-acre vegetable garden.

In addition to her scholarly interests at Winthrop, she participated in the Young Women's Christian Association, the Athletic Association, the Choral Society, the International Relations Club, Girl Scouts, the clubs known as Masquers and Journeyman, and served as a Commencement Marshal. She also graduated with honors, and the Tatler described her as "A modern Portia - A queen of beauty - 'The Rosary.'"

She was active in her church, Trinity United Methodist Church, having served on its board of trustees, as a choir member, former schoolteacher and Daisy Watson Bible class member, as well as a member of the Anna Hannah Circle of the United Methodist Women.

She was a member of the Georgetown County Retired Teachers Association, the S.C. Retired Teachers Association and the National Retired Teachers Association. She was a member of the S.C. Huguenot Society and a former member of the Rosemary Garden Club.

For more information, contact the Division of University Advancement at 803/323-2275, email [email protected] or visit https://www.winthrop.edu/advancement.