Distinguished Alumni 2005

Jane L. LaRoche graduated with her first degree in Spanish from Winthrop College in 1969 and completed her BS degree in Physical Education in 1970. While at Winthrop, she was a member of the Senior Order Honorary Society, Who’s Who Among Colleges and Universities, Spanish Honor Club, Winthrop Recreation Association, Dolphin Club, and Freshmen Orientation Committee. Since she had some spare time (completing two degrees and club work just wasn’t enough), she also co-chaired the Basketball committee for two years, played varsity basketball, was the first student to hold class cheerleader honors for all four years of her career, and was voted Most Enthusiastic in her Senior class.

After completing her degrees at Winthrop, Jane LaRoche entered medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she served on the Medical School Freshman Orientation and Curriculum Committees. She completed her degree in 1974 and spent part of 1975 at the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa as a cardiology exchange student. She returned to her native Camden, SC to assist in general practice and surgery with Dr. Herbert Schreiber. In July of 1975, she began her internship in internal medicine at Tulane University’s Charity Hospital. She was Board Certified in Internal Medicine in 1978, in Geriatrics in 1990, and in Emergency Medicine in 2000. She has been in private practice, served as an emergency room physician, and been a medical section chief for the C.M. Tucker, Jr., Human Resources Center. Her professional affiliations include American College of Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Association of Physician Specialists, and American Geriatrics Society. She was a clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine and a Geriatric Fellow at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine along with being a fellow of the American College of Physicians.

As well as maintaining a busy professional schedule, Jane LaRoche finds time to be an active member of the Winthrop University Alumni Society, Loyalty Fund Committee Member, and Executive Board of the Kershaw County Alumni Chapter. She participates in the orchestra of the Camden Community Theater and the Concert Band, where she is the principle flutist. She is a member of the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, Camden Historical Society, SC State Museum, Riverbanks Zoological Society, and Grace Episcopal Church. I would go on, but I am worn out just reading about her life! It is with great pleasure that we, the current staff and faculty, welcome Jane Lawton LaRoche as a member of the class of 2005 Distinguished Alumni.

Wyndie Havnaer

Wyndie Havnaer graduated from Winthrop in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Recreation. She entered the Department as a non-traditional student and divided her time between her studies and her family while maintaining a 3.56 GPA. After graduation, she began her teaching career in the Rock Hill School District, but soon was appointed as Director of the Preschool program at Leroy Springs and Company. After one year as the Director of the Preschool program, she was appointed Aquatic Director. In 1984, she was named Program Director for the Leroy Springs and Company Fort Mill Recreation Complex. She held this position until 1995, when she was named Director of the Leroy Spring & Company Fort Mill Recreation Department in 1995. For over 20 years, she has provided guidance and leadership to the Fort Mill Recreation Department.

Ms. Havnaer is active in community affairs in Fort Mill. She has served as President of the Fort Mill Community Playhouse, YEA (Youth, Entertainment, Arts), Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary Club. She has also chaired Fest-I-Fun. She has served on the Board of Directors of the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Fort Mill/Tega Cay United Way, Rotary Club, and Tree Tops. She is a member of the Fort Mill School Board of Trustees and on the Advisory Board of First Citizens Bank. Fort Mill acknowledged her contributions to the community by naming her the Fred Peterson Volunteer of the Year in 1998.

Wyndie Havnaer is professionally active in the National Recreation and Parks Association and the South Carolina Recreation and Parks Association, where she has served on the Board of Directors. She has served as Secretary for the South Carolina School Age Child Care Association and as a trainer in the South Carolina in Early Childhood Association. She continues to be active the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. After completing all this volunteer work, Wyndie finds time to golf, boat, sew, bike and travel. She is married to Dick Havnaer and has a son, Alan who is married to a fellow Winthrop graudate, Holly. They have two children, Julianna 4 and Wade 3. Her daughter Tammie is married to Burt Welch and they have two children, Caroline 8 and Thomas, 5. It is with great pleasure that we, the current staff and faculty, welcome Wyndie Havnaer as a member of the class of 2005 Distinguished Alumni.

Amelia Mays Woods

Amelia Mays Woods graduated from Winthrop College in 1983 in Physical Education teaching. Immediately after her graduation from Winthrop, she enrolled at the University of Tennessee. After completing her MS degree at UT, she began her teaching career in her hometown at Newberry High School in Newberry, SC. While at Newberry, she taught physical education and coached tennis, track, and cheerleading. She entered the PhD program at the University of South Carolina in Instruction and Curriculum in Physical Education in 1986. After completing her PhD in 1988, she taught at Columbia College from 1988 to 1992, moving on to Saint Olaf College in Northfield, MN with her husband Woody in 1992. In 1994, she began teaching at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, where she was promoted to full professor in 2002. In her spare time, Dr. Woods is the proud mother of Mary Elizabeth and Jack.

Dr. Woods has published over forty-eight articles in professional journals and made numerous presentations. She is an acknowledged scholar in the areas of motivating teacher change, mentoring, and teacher education. Her research has appeared in Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, Journal of Human Movement Studies, Teaching Elementary Physical Education, The Physical Educator, and The Journal of Teaching in Physical Education to name just a few. She has co-authored a number of studies with such celebrated researchers as Steven Silverman, Stephen Cone, Theresa Purcell, and Peter Werner.

She has been an invited presenter at the Share the Wealth Conference in Jekyll Island, GA, the Florida State University Sport Administration and Physical Education Conference, and the North Central Association Meeting. In addition to her presentations at state, district, and national AAHPERD conventions, Dr. Woods has presented at the American Educational Research Association, the Society of Utopian Studies, and the Association International des Ecoles Superieures d’Education Physique World Sport Science Congress. Indiana State acknowledged her contributions to teacher education by giving her the Howard Richardson Award for her research efforts.

Dr. Amelia May Woods is universally respected for her expertise in teacher education throughout the world. Her contributions to the research base in teacher education through her research, writing, and presentations make her one of the most productive scholars in the discipline. Her willingness to ask difficult questions and to investigate these questions through rigorous scientific inquiry has contributed to improved teacher education in physical education. It is with great pleasure that we, the current staff and faculty, welcome Amelia Mays Woods as a member of the class of 2005 Distinguished Alumni.

Karen Melinda Roof

Karen Melinda Roof graduated from Winthrop in 1987 with an undergraduate degree in Physical Education. While an undergraduate, she was named the NASPE Outstanding Student for Winthrop University. Her first teaching position was in the Montgomery County Schools in Christiansburg, VA, where she taught at the Christiansburg Primary School. The Rock Hill School system had the good judgment to lure her back in 1988 to be the traveling teacher for Ebinport and Richmond Drive Elementary schools. While at Ebinport, she was named the Beginning Teacher of the Year. In 1989, she moved to York Road Elementary, where she continues to provide quality physical education to her students, to mentor numerous Winthrop University students, and to be an innovative and supportive colleague to Winthrop University faculty members.

Ms. Roof (as she tells her students – if you forget my name, just look up) continues to be professionally active. She earned her I.M.A. in Physical Education in 1992 from the University of South Carolina and achieved National Board Teaching Certification in 2001. She has presented at SCAHPERD conferences numerous times, has conducted workshops for the Olde English Consortium, and the Educators Professional Development Institute. In addition, she has presented at the Share the Wealth Conference in Jekyll Island, GA. She has co-authored with Dr. Sandy Wilson, “The Portfolio Process: Things to Consider When Establishing a Portfolio for Young Learners in Grades K-8 in Teaching Elementary Education. Her service includes work with the South Carolina Assessment Writing Team for Elementary Physical Education, chairing the elementary section of the South Carolina Association for Physical Education and Sport, and being an active member in SCAHPERD.

In the last ten years, Karen Roof has been named Teacher of the Year at York Road Elementary four times. Winthrop University’s College of Education acknowledged her contributions to the Health and Physical Education Department and her excellence in teaching in 1998 by awarding her the Dean’s Award of Excellence. Since 1992, she has touched the lives of hundreds of elementary educators through her work as an adjunct professor in Movement Activities for Elementary Children. She is the best possible example of teaching excellence at the elementary level and the Department is lucky to have her so close and so willing to mentor our students. It is with great pleasure that we, the current staff and faculty, welcome Karen Melinda Roof as a member of the class of 2005 Distinguished Alumni.