Jan. 28, 2005
Columbia, Mo.--Pairing with various student organizations on campus, the 2005 Mizzou Tiger gymnastics team is participating in the Adopt-a-Gymnast program aimed to increase excitement and awareness of women's sports at Missouri.
At the beginning of the season, adoptive "families" selected a Tiger gymnast to support throughout the season. Bolstering the cheering section, adoptive families attend all Mizzou home meets and create decorative signs to inspire their gymnast's performance.
Student organizations on campus adopting a Tiger gymnast are not responsible for any financial obligations, as all students with an All-Sports Pass receive free admission to all gymnastics home meets. In addition, NCAA regulations prohibit any student organization from providing a gymnast with any extra benefits (gifts, food, etc.).
 The Alumni Association Student Board support Julie Abaray at the MU-Nebraska meet.  |
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Seeing great support across campus, 12 of Mizzou's 16 gymnasts have already been adopted. In recognition of their dedication to promote women's athletics, the Tigers will honor their adoptive families with a pizza party following the Mizzou-Nebraska meet on Friday, January 28. Adoptive families are invited to meet their foster gymnast and receive official adoption papers recognizing their efforts.
For more information concerning the pizza party or the Mizzou Adopt-a-Gymnast program, please contact Stephanie Menio in the Mizzou Athletic Marketing Office at (573) 882-0710 or menios@missouri.edu.
2005 Adopt-a-Gymnast Participants
Kappa Kappa Gamma - Sophomore Amanda Pezzullo
Gamma Phi Beta - Junior Kelley Andersen
Alpha Delta Pi - Senior Alisha Robinson
Kappa Alpha Theta - Junior Bunny Schwartzman
The Alumni Association Student Board - Freshman Julie Abaray
Women in Engineering - Freshman Lisa Puccio
MU Office of Visitor Relations - Junior Jodie Heinicka
Mizzou Engineering Student Council - Freshman Ashley Khederian
Human Environmental Sciences - Junior Erin Riley
Residence Hall Community - Junior Sarah Zigler
College of Education Student Council - Sophomore Whitney Crater
Society of Women Engineers - Sophomore Julie O'Donnell
Gymnasts to Adopt
Freshman Katie Kluga
Sophomore Alicia Gilmore
Senior Rachael Dombart
Freshman Nicole Bowman