2011 Sunbelt Rentals Scholarship Winners Announced
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) - Winthrop University seniors Dejon Bivens (Charlotte, N.C.) and Crystal Gonzalez (Sumter, S.C.) have been chosen as the recipients of the Big South Conference's Sunbelt Rentals Scholarship, it was announced today. Bivens and Gonzalez will each receive $2,000 from Sunbelt Rentals toward their final semester as an undergraduate.
Both students were presented their awards by Sunbelt Rentals at Thursday's Charleston Southern-Winthrop men's basketball game. The game was televised regionally on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) as well as video streamed on the Big South Network presented by State Farm.
Established in August 2008, the Sunbelt Rentals Scholarship program recognizes the work done in the classroom, campus and the community by students within the Big South Conference. To qualify, students must be enrolled in a Big South Conference member institution and entering their final semester as an undergraduate. The students must be of an underrepresented population including women, minority groups, disabled students, and/or current and former military personnel.
"Sunbelt Rentals is proud to be able to provide scholarship money to students that have worked hard in and out of the classroom," commented Kenny May, Director of Leadership Development for Sunbelt Rentals. "Dejon and Crystal, as well as all of the students that applied for our scholarship, have extremely bright futures and we wish them continued success as they begin a new chapter in their lives after graduation."
"I'm really thankful that Sun Belt Rentals is developing our community with this scholarship and I am really humbled by this award," said Bivens, who is majoring in Political Science and is a member of the Winthrop men's tennis team. "Both Winthrop and the Big South certainly prepared me for this opportunity by developing me as a leader. I am truly honored."
"I would like to thank the Big South Conference and Sunbelt Rentals for this scholarship and providing money for my last semester of school," added Gonzalez, who is obtaining a Bachelors of Science in Athletic Training. "I enjoyed my time at Winthrop University and as a Big South student. I am thrilled I will be able to offset some of my expenses for college."
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.
ABOUT SUNBELT RENTALS
Sunbelt Rentals, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ashtead Group plc, is one of the largest equipment rental companies in the United States. Sunbelt is based Fort Mill, SC, and provides equipment rental solutions for the industrial, construction, and municipal markets, plus the DIY markets, from its network of locations covering in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Sunbelt's extensive equipment fleet includes a wide range of general construction and industrial equipment, and is further broadened by specialty businesses serving the Pump, Power, Trench Shoring and Scaffold markets. For more information, visit www.sunbeltrentals.com.