Jan. 21, 2009
Columbia, Mo. - Senior Alicia Hatcher continues to put up big numbers on the gym floor while competing hard in the classroom.
The senior has been named to the prestigious Mizzou '39, which recognizes just 39 outstanding seniors from the more than 6,000 students in this year's class.
"It's a great honor to be chosen since there are only 39 of us," Hatcher said. "There were lots of talented students that I competed with. I'm proud."
In addition, the Missouri Gymnastics squad has been recognized for having the highest team GPA for the 2008 fall semester at MU. The Tigers checked in with a 3.44.
The Mizzou '39 must be seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and are selected for their academic, service and extracurricular achievements. A committee of alumni, faculty and staff review the applications and select the recipients.
The award was created in 2005 by the MU Alumni Association Student Board, and pays tribute to the families that made possible the founding of the University in 1839.
This is the third major academic recognition from the University for the senior. In 2008, Hatcher was named the Varsity M Association's Student Athlete of the Year award and was tapped into the Mystical Seven honors society.
The Varsity M award, given out each season, is awarded to one male and one female student-athlete with outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments, along with considerable involvement in community service activities.
Mystical Seven taps seven outstanding men and women on campus for membership based on their good deeds and selfless leadership and service to the campus and community. As a gymnast, Hatcher exemplified all areas of the society's criteria and what it means to be a student-athlete at Mizzou.
Hatcher is no stranger to awards, both in and outside the gym. She was named the Big 12's Event Specialist of the Week just last week after putting up big numbers on the uneven bars and balance beam in the season-opener against Iowa State. She also nabbed the award after a career performance against Nebraska in 2008.
Hatcher is also currently ranked No. 13 in the nation on the balance beam. She averages a 9.788 on the bars, 9.863 on beam and 9.450 on the floor exercise. Her score of 9.750 on the floor last week against Arizona State matched her career high.
After being tabbed as an All-Big 12 team selection on bars last year, Hatcher received various other awards, including Academic All-Big 12 first team honors and a spot on the All-Big 12 Championship bars team.
"I've had to work really hard in the gym -- all that carries over to the classroom if you're proud of what you do," she said. "I came in with the attitude that I'm not satisfied unless my work has the finishing touch on it."
During her time at Mizzou, Hatcher has become a leader on the gymnastics team and a leader in the entire athletic community at Mizzou. Along with wrestler Raymond Jordan, a Mystical Seven selection last season, Hatcher helped form a partnership between student athletes and the Greek community in hopes of benefiting the Central Missouri Food Bank. She has also attended the NCAA Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas in 2008 and has excelled in the classroom as a journalism major. She plans to attend law school after receiving her degree from MU.