April 23, 2001
Columbia, Mo.--Every spring for more than seventy years, Mizzou has sponsored a Tap Day ceremony to recognize the new initiates of several campus organizations. Membership to these groups is open to upper-class and graduate students regardless of their academic school or college. Four Mizzou athletes Shan Shauffler, Jennifer Leerssen, Ann Marie Brooks and Lisa Morris, were tapped while athletic director Mike Alden and athletic team physician Dr. Mark Adams were honor tapped. Tap Day, named because of the "tapping" of new members, was held at the base of columns in the Francis Quadrangle last Friday, April 20.
When an individual is tapped, they are recognized for their exemplary performance in academic and non-academic arenas. Students are selected based on their academic, leadership and service achievements.
Shauffler (Huntsville, Mo.) who is a walk-on running back on the MU football team, was named to the Omicron Delta Kappa. He is a majoring in Fisheries and Wildlife and saw playing time on special teams last season for the Tigers while carrying the highest GPA on the football squad.
Brooks (St. Joseph, Mo.) is a member of the Mizzou track and cross country teams and earned the fifth Academic All-America award of her career last week. She was named to the University Division first team and was elected to the Mystical Seven. Brooks was named an indoor track academic all-american, was named a 2000 Academic All-Big 12 Scholar Athlete and also to the Fall and Winter 2000 Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Rolls. Brooks is also a three-time Verizon Academic all-district selection.
Leersson (Sedalia, Mo.) is also a member of the Mizzou track and cross country teams and was inducted into the Mortar Board . She is an academic all-Big 12 performer and was named to the 2000 Fall and Winter Big 12 Commissioners Honor Rolls and was also tabbed an Academic All-Big 12 Scholar Athlete.
Morris (Overland Park, Kan.), who competes for the volleyball team, is now a member of the QEBH. She was named to the 2000 Academic All-Big 12 first team and the All-Big 12 first team. Morris is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, earned a 4.0 GPA in both fall and winter semesters in 2000, and is a fall 2000 member of the Big 12 Commissioners honor roll. She was also named a Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Classroom Champion.
An honorary tap is an honor presented to a faculty and/or staff member whom the organization feels has had a significant impact on the experience of students at the University of Missouri.
Dr. Adams was inducted into the QEBH Honorary Society. Besides being an outstanding physician for the MU athletic, Adams is a member of the United States Olympics Sports Medicine Sports Medicine Society. He was chosen as team physician for women's soccer for the 1996 U.S. team at the Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta. Dr. Adams is also a member of the board of trustees of the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Ala.
Alden is now in his third year as athletic director at the University of Missouri and was also inducted into QEBH for his outstanding contributions to the overall betterment of the University of Missouri. Under his direction, MU has established itself as one of the region's up-and-coming comprehensive programs. This season, Mizzou is in position to challenge its best-ever finish in the annual Sears Director's Cup Standings.