ROCK HILL, S.C. - Legendary Newberry College student-athlete, coach, educator and mentor Dr. Peggy Barnes Winder has been elected to the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame.

She will enter the hall after receiving the South Atlantic Conference Distinguished Alumni Award for her all-around contributions.

"Dr. Winder joins an accomplished group of Newberry College coaches, student-athletes and community leaders who are members of the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame," said Newberry College Athletics Director Sean Johnson. "Dr. Winder is a legend on our campus and now she is a certified South Atlantic Conference legend."

Dr. Winder joins other outstanding Newberry College student-athletes who have won the SAC Distinguished Alumni Award.

Wendell Davis (football), retired Orangeburg Director of Public Safety, Mark Hammond (football), South Carolina Secretary of State and Eric Wells (football), business owner, Newberry College Board of Trustee and board member of Camp Kemo have previously entered the SAC Hall of Fame by winning this prestigious honor.

She also joins other Newberry College legends as members of the SAC Hall of Fame including Coach Fred Herren (2000), Charlie Coles (2002), Jimmy Skipper (football/2003), Reverand Eddie Tayor (football/2007), Brandon Hughes (basketball/2008), D.D. Boyd (football/2011) and Aubrey Mosley (volleyball & golf/2017).

Dr. Winder came to Newberry College in 1982 from Lancaster, S.C.,

She attended Newberry on a dual basketball and volleyball scholarship. While at Newberry Peggy received numerous accolades for the performance both on the court and in the classroom. She lettered four years in both sports.

Dr. Winder's name is firmly inscribed in the Newberry College women's basketball record book where she still ranks in the top-5 in career rebounds (1,035) and top-15 in career scoring (1,264).

During her first year of basketball she earned the Lady Indian award, Outstanding Freshman player, and was the 1983-84 Most Valuable Player. She also participated in the Burger King all-star game during her sophomore year and in the District 6 NAIA all-star game in her senior year. As a volleyball player she received the 1983-84 Most Improved award and the Most Valuable Player award in 1984-85.

"What an awesome, well deserved honor for Peggy to be inducted to the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame!" said Newberry College board of trustee and fellow SAC hall of fame member Eric Wells. "Peggy has always focused on helping young student athletes, Newberry College, and our overall community learn, grow and improve. Peggy has been a great contributor and a shining example of what Newberry College and the South Atlantic Conference can hold up as a standard for current and future student athletes' aspirations. Peggy is just the epitome of a Distinguished Alumni of both Newberry and the South Atlantic Conference. Congratulations to my friend and classmate! 

Dr. Winder graduated with honors in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education.

She was selected to Who's Who Among Students in Universities and Colleges, received the W.L. Laval Award, given annually to the member of the Newberry senior class who is judged outstanding in athletics, scholarship, character, and leadership, and received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for excellence in character and service to humanity.

After graduating, Dr. Winder began her teaching career at Newberry in 1990.

A two-time NCSGA Professor of the Year recipient (2003 and 2012) and a 2011 recipient of the Grady L. Cooper Award for teaching excellence and service.

She works closely with faculty, staff, and students to advance the college's mission to build and maintain a diverse and inclusive campus community, including being a prominent committee member and driving force behind the Newberry College Dufford Diversity Week.

Dr. Winder became the first female inductee into the Newberry College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and in 1999 she was selected as one of 20 South Carolina Women Making a Difference for Women in Sports.

She received the State of South Carolina National Association for Girls and Women in Sports Pathfinder Award and was named the JAYCEES Outstanding Young American Fitness Leader in 2003.

In 2004, Dr. Widner was named the Outstanding Young Alumnus by the Newberry Alumni Board of Directors. In 2011, she was inducted into the Bachman Honor Society, and in 2012 she was selected to provide the December Commencement Address to the class of 2012 at Newberry. She received the W.C. Carter Professorship Award for "Selfless Giving" to students, staff, colleagues, and alumni in 2014.

In addition to her teaching duties, Dr. Winder is the first tenured African American professor at Newberry and also is the first African American to serve as a department chair. She is the Director of Diversity Education and is a Professor of Physical Education at Newberry.

On February 17 Dr. Winder, along with fellow Newberry College Hall of Famer Barbara Davis, became the first two Newberry College women's basketball players to have their jerseys retired.

Dr. Winder earned her master's degree from Western Kentucky University and her Ph.D. from Trident University International.

The 2024 SAC Hall of Fame ceremony will take place the evening of May 20 in Greenville.