ROCK HILL, S.C. -- In an email sent to faculty, students and staff, Winthrop University President Dan Mahony announced the school will discontinue the Tillman Award, which was named for former South Carolina Governor Ben Tillman.
In its place, the students with the best performance at graduation will receive a president's award for academic excellence.
On campus Wednesday, every student NBC Charlotte reached out to supports the decision.
"In this state, you know Strom Thurman, Ben Tillman they had a big impact, but with what's going on in America today, I think it is a good decision to attract more academic students to the university," said Patrick Ferguson.
"I really just want to get past this. I understand that Tillman had done a lot for the University, particularly Clemson University more so, but what I'm really hoping for is to completely get rid of as much as we can of him," said student James Holland. "We really don't need someone like that in our history."
"I think if the university wants to be open to diversity and different cultures coming here then they have to be willing to let go of the past names that weren't as open to different races," added student Tinisha Pendergrass.
Renaming the award cuts one tie with the man who helped to create the university, however Tillman has also become a flashpoint for controversy in the state's history.
The university president, as well as other academic leaders, plan to fund the award out of their own bank accounts.
