May 13, 2004

COLUMBIA, Mo. - A total of 41 University of Missouri student-athletes will graduate during commencement exercises this weekend. Several ceremonies will take place throughout campus beginning Friday evening and continuing through Sunday afternoon.

Every Mizzou sport will be represented among this weekend's graduates, including a sport-leading 10 swimmers and divers. Seven track and field student-athletes are scheduled to graduate, along with five football players. The basketball, golf, gymnastics, softball and wrestling programs will each have three players graduate, while volleyball and tennis will each have one graduate this weekend.

Two baseball players - Ryan Rallo and Kyle Johnson - will miss this weekend's ceremonies due to their three-game series at Kansas to decide the results of the annual Border War.

Eighteen former student-athletes whose eligibility expired prior to this year are included among the 41 May graduates. They include two-time Big 12 multi-event champion Fiona Asigbee, All-America swimmer and Big 12 Champion Matt Ferrarelli, and two-time Big 12 multi-event champion Knut Sommerfeldt.

In all, 65 student-athletes - including 15 who graduated this past December, as well as an additional nine individuals scheduled to earn their degrees in August - are to be recognized at a private luncheon this Saturday afternoon.

Please see a full list of May graduates on the next page.

MIZZOU STUDENT-ATHLETES
SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE DEGREES THIS WEEKEND