Winthrop

By Mark Simpson

Big South Conference

CHARLOTTE, NC– Winthrop University senior Theresa Verostek and Radford University senior Alexandra Spector have been chosen as the recipients of the Big South Conference's inaugural Sunbelt Rentals Scholarship, it was announced today.  Spector and Verostek will each receive $4,000 from Sunbelt Rentals toward their final semester as an undergraduate.

Sunbelt Rentals will present Verostek, a former member of the cross country and track teams, her scholarship at Saturday's UNC Asheville-Winthrop men's basketball game at Winthrop Coliseum that will be televised on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN).  Spector will be recognized at a future Radford home basketball game.  Both students will also be honored during the Big South Conference's 25^th Anniversary Banquet and Awards Dinner later in May.

The Sunbelt Rentals Scholarship program was established in August 2008 as a means of recognizing the work done in the classroom, campus and the community by students within the Big South Conference.  In order to be qualified, the students had to be enrolled in a Big South Conference member institution and entering their final semester as an undergraduate.  The students had to be of an underrepresented population including women, minority groups, disabled students, and/or current and former military personnel.  In addition to the scholarship, Spector and Verostek will also be given the opportunity to participate in the Sunbelt Rentals JumpStart Sales Training Program upon graduation with guarantee of full-time employment upon successful completion of the program.  The Sunbelt Rentals JumpStart Sales Training Program is a four-month on-the-job training program designed for entry level to inexperienced candidates in the rental and/or sales business that provides opportunity for advancement, unlimited earning potential, and intensive training that prepares its participants for success.

"Theresa and Alexandra have both shown academic achievement, leadership, character and a commitment to community service," commented Kenny May, Director of Leadership Development for Sunbelt Rentals.  "These two students have shown tremendous passion, in and out of the classroom, and we were very impressed with their demeanor and ability to juggle multiple activities.  Theresa and Alexandra, as well as all of the students that applied for our scholarship, have extremely bright futures and we wish them continued success as they enter their final semester and begin a new chapter in their lives."

"I feel very honored to receive such an amazing scholarship," added Verostek.  "I am grateful for the opportunity to use my energy and talents in the Sunbelt JumpStart Program."

A committee of Big South Conference administrators, Sunbelt Rentals executives and institutional representatives from Big South Conference institutions selected the recipients of the Sunbelt Rentals scholarships.