Dolly Crouch Mitchell

Dolly Crouch Mitchell graduated from Winthrop College with a BS degree in physical education in 1962.  She continued her education at the University of Tennessee receiving a MS in physical education  in 1968.  She finished  her academic career with 30+ credits in Education Administration from Clemson. 

She began her teaching career at Northside Junior High School in 1962 moving to League Junior High School in 1965, where she was a finalist for Greenville County Teacher of The Year.  In 1974, she moved to Bell Street Middle School, where she was a teacher and assistant principal from 1974-1984.  In 1984, she moved to Clinton High School as Assistant Principal. 

Dolly’s community involvement included Girl Scout Leader, Duncan Creek Presbyterian Church, Holden Beach Chapel, Holden Beach Book Club, and Lake Murray Power Squadron.  She has served as SCAHPERD secretary, treasurer, and vice-president.  She was also active in SCEA,  and the South Carolina and National Association of School Administrators.

While at Winthrop, Dolly was Freshmen and Senior class president, served on student government, worked as Junior Follies Stage Manager and served on the Judicial Board.   During her senior year, she was named to Senior Order, Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, and was voted most Versatile-Superlative.  Throughout her four years at Winthrop, she was a member of Sigma Gamma Nu.

Mrs. Couch has maintained her close relationship with Winthrop.  She is permanent Reunion Chair for the Class of 1962, served as a member of the Alumni Board from 1997-1999, served as 2nd Vice President from 2001-2003, and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Alumni Board in 2004. 

In 2004, Dolly and her husband endowed a fund for use by the Physical Education Department.  For the last three years, this fund has been used to support student travel to the SCAHPERD Convention and participation in the SuperStars competition.  Her and her husband’s generous support has allowed over 100 students to attend the SCAHPERD Convention.

 It is my great pleasure that we, the current faculty and staff, welcome Dolly Crouch Mitchell as a member of the Class of 2007 Distinguished Alumni.

Kay Wright Rush

Kay Wright Rush graduated with a B.S. in Physical Education from Winthrop College in 1967.  She continued her education in 1975 at the University of South Carolina completing a M.Ed in Exceptional Children.  She was awarded an Ed.D. in Special Education Administration from USC in 1985.  She holds certifications in vocation education, health and physical education, biology, emotionally disabled, mental disabilities, and as a secondary principal.

While at Winthrop, Kay was involved in Sigma Gamma Nu all four years.  She has remained involved with the Department through her attendance at The Winthrop Alumni Social at SCAHPERD and her work with the X-PEM Reunion Committee.  She was a member of the planning committee that successfully hosted the “Peabody Moving West” reunion with over 125 alumni attending.

Ms. Rush began her career as a physical education/health teacher at Greenwood High School in 1967.  After fours years at Greenwood, she took a position with the United States Department of Defense at the RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge base in Suffolk, England.  After two years in England, she returned to the states as a teacher of emotionally disabled students at Spring Valley High School.  She held this position for six years before moving to Wilson Vocational Center as a teacher of vocational math.  She held this position until she was named the Director of Special Services for the Lexington School District One.  Kay Rush served as Director of Special Services for Lexington until her retirement in 2006.  While working for the Lexington School District, Dr. Rush served as an adjunct professor for the University of South Carolina at Aiken, College of Charleston, and Furman University.  She is currently CEO of the Kay Wright Rush Educational Services.

Throughout her career, Kay Rush was an active and involved professional.  She holds memberships in the Council for Exceptional Children, Council of Administrators in Special Education, Council for Exceptional Children Pioneer Division, American Association of School Administrators, and the South Carolina Association of School Administrators.  She has made numerous presentations at the local, state, and national levels and continues to serve as a consultant for various school districts.

On a personal note, Kay is married to Jake Rush and is the proud mother of Kacey Alexis and Jeffery Jacobs.  She is the proud grandmother of Damien Jacob Alexander Rush. It is my great pleasure that we, the current faculty and staff, welcome Kay Wright Rush as a member of the Class of 2007 Distinguished Alumni.

Virginia C. Barfield

Virginia C. “Ginger” Barfield graduated Magna Cum Laude with Departmental Honors with a BS in Physical Education  from Winthrop College in 1977. She continued her studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and in 2002 completed her Ph.D. in Religious Studies at Duke University. In 1981, her ordination was held at Oakland Baptist Church in Rock Hill.  She is currently serving as Assistant Academic Dean, Director of Baptist Studies Program & Adjunct Professor of the New Testament and Greek at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary.

Dr. Barfield has received numerous honors and awards throughout her career.  She was a Fellow and Presenter at the Oxford Roundtable in 2006, is listed in the National Register of Who’s Who in Executive and Professionals, and received the Crown Polisher Award for her contributions to the Charlotte community in 1989.  She has published Sunday School Curricula for Smyth & Helwys Publishing Co., written periodic commentary for Baptists Today, and published various articles, book reviews and sermons.  Her volunteer work includes mentorship of at-risk students for the Richland I School District, leader of Habitat Youth-build project that was first in the nation in 1989, and led two relief mission trips to New York City following the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. 

While at Winthrop, she belonged to Phi Kappa Phi, served as Student Body President her senior year, and Class President during her freshman and sophomore years.  She played on the Intercollegiate Golf team and continues her love affair with the game. In 2001, T Magazine (official magazine of the LPGA) included her in an article about women and golf.  She has been an avid golf for over 30 years.  Although golf has been a passion, she began her career at Rock Hill High School as the girls’ basketball coach.  In her short two year career, she was 36-10 overall.  In just her second and final year, her team lost by one point in the Upper State finals. The team had not made it pass the first round of the conference tournament in four pervious season.

 It is my great pleasure that we, the current faculty and staff, welcome Virginia “Ginger” Barfield as a member of the Class of 2007 Distinguished Alumni.

Lynn Hammond

Lynn Dabney Hammond graduated from Winthrop College in 1981 with a degree in Physical Education.  She immediately took a position as a K-6 teacher at Buford Elementary for the Lancaster County School District.  In 1983, Lynn took some time off to be a fulltime Mom to Sara, Emily, and Will.

From 1985 through 1991, Lynn became a pre-school teacher at First Baptist Church in Lancaster.  In 1992, she joined the USC-Lancaster Gregory Wellness Center staff as an instructor for senior fitness classes and an array of swim classes.  In 1994, Lynn Hammond discovered her true passion—health education and began as Health Educator/Health Promotion and Physical Activity Specialist for DHEC in the Catawba Public Health District.  In 2000, she moved to Columbia to become the South Carolina Schools Director for the Department of Health and Environmental Control. This lead to her current position as SC Healthy Schools Director for the SC Department of Education.  In this role, Ms. Hammond has provided invaluable leadership for Health Education in South Carolina.

Lynn Hammond’s professional involvement includes the Society of Directors of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, American Association for Health Education, American School Health Association, and SCAHPERD.  She has served as President of the SC Association for the Advancement of Health Education and is currently chair elect of the Leadership Council for AAHPERD.  She received the DHEC Rookie Heath Educator of the Year in 1995 and was honored by  SCAAHE in 2006.  SCAAHE acknowledged Lynn’s contribution to health education by giving her the  Outstanding Contribution to Health Education Award at the SCAHPERD convention.

In addition to her professional involvement, Lynn has been active with the SC Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, the SC Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity, SC Coalition for Obesity,  Healthy  People 2010 Interagency Council, the Partners for Health for Children, the American Heart Association, and numerous others.  As part of her community service, Lynn has written numerous funding proposals, made a multitude of presentations, and planned numerous conferences.

It is my great pleasure that we, the current faculty and staff, welcome Lynn Dadney Hammond to  the Class of 2007 Distinguished Alumni.