Terry Scholarship aids future softball athletes

By David Thackham

thackhamd@mytjnow.com

From left: Coach Mark Cooke, Vernon Terry, Ann Terry and AD Tom Hickman. Photo courtesy of the Winthrop athletics website.

Vernon and Ann Terry have shown great loyalty to Winthrop athletics. On Wednesday, March 2, they added to their devotion. The Winthrop athletic department released that the Vernon and Ann Terry Softball Scholarship will be introduced to provide an opportunity for a softball student-athlete “who displays leadership qualities within her team and in the Winthrop University community.”

At the softball matchup last week against the University of South Carolina, the Catawba, S.C., couple announced the news to the crowd with Winthrop’s president Anthony J. DiGiorgio on hand.

“Vernon and Ann are wonderful examples of the true meaning of loyalty,” DiGiorgio said.

Winthrop Athletic Director Tom Hickman agreed, saying the scholarship “will be a welcome addition to the funds we currently allocate for softball scholarships.”

The Terrys have established three separate scholarships in the past, including the Vernon W. and Ann Scott Terry Athletic Endowment, the Vernon W. Terry Endowed Scholarship for men’s basketball and the Ann Scott Terry Endowed Scholarship for women’s basketball. The latest scholarship was in honor of Terry’s 60th birthday.

“It is very telling,” DiGiorgio said, “that whenever the Terrys experience a milestone in their lives, they celebrate with a gift to Winthrop. Their support of Winthrop serves as a motivator for other Eagles fans and Winthrop supporters.”

Hickman noted the practical value of the new scholarships would financially benefit the softball program.

“It will mean a little more can be made available to our softball student-athletes, which is something that is always a positive benefit in terms of recruitment,” he said.

The previous awards, made in 2001, were worth $110,000 in all, $60,000 for the endowment and $25,000 each for the basketball scholarships.

Hickman showed his gratitude for the couple’s newest donation.  

“The Terrys are faithful supporters of many of our athletic programs here at Winthrop and show that support not only by their faithful attendance at our events, but also through their continued financial support.  We need more true fans like the Terrys.  We hope their generosity will serve as an example for others to follow,” he said.

DiGiorgio called Ann and Terry Winthrop’s “premier cheerleaders” due to their genuine interest in sporting events, their continuous attendance at events and their continued philanthropy.