May 11, 2005
COLUMBIA, Mo. - A total of 38 University of Missouri student-athletes will be receiving their diplomas this weekend as part of the University's 161st commencement exercises. The new graduates, along with 31 others from December 2004 and August 2005, will be honored Saturday at noon at a Student-Athlete Graduation Reception in the Clinton Club of Mizzou Arena.
Several student-athletes are currently slated to miss this weekend's festivities because they will be competing at their respective Big 12 Championships. The track and field team, which boasts 12 graduates this weekend - the most of any program this semester - will be in Manhattan, Kan., for the Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships this Friday-Sunday. In addition, reigning Big 12 Softball Pitcher of the Week Erin Kalka will be in Oklahoma City with her team for the Big 12 Softball Championships.
The full list of May graduates is as follows:
Jennifer Bennett, women's track & field
Justin Bliss, men's golf
Tyler Belanger, men's swimming
Jenny Bybee, women's track & field
Shen Danru, volleyball
Stephen Darmitzel, men's diving
Marquis Davis, men's track & field
Megan Duncan, soccer
Lee Ewigman, football
Brad Flanders, baseball
Clint Freeman, wrestling
Juliana Godoi, volleyball
Cody Greene, wrestling
Margaret Ibe, women's track & field
Stretch James, women's basketball
Erin Kalka, softball
Steph Krawczyk, soccer
Sarah Lo, women's swimming
Lindsay Markworth, women's track & field
David Mertens, men's track & field
Chris Musfeldt, men's swimming
Andrea Nervig, gymnastics
Andrea Nigh, women's swimming
MyEsha Perkins, women's basketball
Serena Ramsey, women's track & field
Tyrone Roberson, football
JC Russell, wrestling
Steven Sanchez, football
Katerina Sevcikova, tennis
Jesse Sims, men's track & field
Brad Smith, football
Henry Sweat, football
Ben Vrbicek, men's track & field
Kelley Weidinger, women's track & field
Scott Wheatley, football
Tyron Woodley, wrestling
Sonya Yamnitz, women's track & field
Elizabeth Young, women's track & field
The list of December, 2004 graduates include:
Jemma Archibald, women's track & field
Karen Bauer, soccer
Howard Brissette, football
Elgin Childress, football
Jason Conley, men's basketball
Lindsay Davis, gymnastics
Sean Doyle, football
Jason Gannon, football
Todd Gohsler, football
Brock Harvey, football
Elizabeth Igoe, women's swimming
Marcus James, football
David Jenkins, men's golf
Urska Juric, tennis
James Kinney, football
Tracy Lozier, women's basketball
Clint Matthews, football
Melissa McLellan, soccer
Neville Miller, men's track & field
Shirdonya Mitchell, football
Lauren Owca, gymnastics
Holly Sherder, women's track & field
Eric Sullins, men's swimming
Evan Unrau, women's basketball
Beau Viehmann, football
Rebecca Wolfe, women's swimming
Terianne Wolford, women's basketball
The weekend caps another stellar semester of performance in the classroom for Mizzou's student-athletes. Over 300 Tigers were honored at the 19th annual Academic Awards Breakfast on April 20. Softball coach Ty Singleton was given the Coach's Academic Enhancement Award, while track and field senior Neville Miller was presented with the Director of Athletics Leadership Award.
The Life Skills Award of Excellence was presented to the gymnastics team.
Track and field standout Amanda Bales and wrestler Tyron Woodley were chosen as Mizzou's nominees for the Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Amanda Morford (swimming & diving), David Overstreet (football) and Kendra Power (softball) were honored with the Total Person Program's Academic Achievement Award.
A total of 18 student-athletes were recognized for Total Person Program Academic Excellence:
Jenny Bybee, women's track & field
Alicia Gilmore, gymnastics
Erika Josbena, tennis
Maggie Malm, soccer
Kim Massaro, women's diving
Kathy Masterson, softball
Tyler McCormick, wrestling
Kacey McFarland, women's basketball
Rem Moll, men's track & field
Serena Ramsey, women's track & field
Ben Stafford, men's track & field
Kelli Strubinger, women's golf
Phinney Troy, football
Michael Unger, men's golf
Jessica Vanderkooi, volleyball
Travis Wendte, baseball
Peter Willett, men's swimming
Kevin Young, men's basketball
Finally, eight of Mizzou's 18 teams - soccer, tennis, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's cross country, and men's and women's track and field - were recognized by their respective coaches associations for team academic excellence.