JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - Sarah Sneed, graduating senior at Missouri Southern State University, is a student with a superior collegiate career. Now she has received one of the University's highest honors.

She has been named the MSSU Alumni Association Outstanding Graduate for 2005. She will be recognized at the annual Honors Convocation at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 19 in Taylor Performing Arts Center.

Sneed, an Honors Program student at Missouri Southern, will graduate in May with a B.S. in Biology with emphasis in pre-medicine and a B.A. in Chemistry. Sneed is presently studying in London as part of the Missouri London Program. She served as treasurer for Omicron Delta Kappa until she left for England. She was Women's Soccer Representative for the Student Athlete Advisory Council last two years, including a term as President.

She has served as an Orientation leader for the last two years and was chosen as the Outstanding Student Orientation Leader for this year. Sneed has volunteered at the Joplin Community Clinic and for Big Brother Big Sister and Special Olympics for several events over the last four years. In the summer of 2004 she did an internship at Pediatric Associates of Southwest Missouri.

When she returns to MSSU in May she will give her senior Honors Thesis which will discuss the past, present, and future role of women in medicine. Sarah Sneed is the daughter of William and Diane Sneed of Auburn, Kan. She attended Auburn Elementary School, then Washburn (Kan.) Rural Middle School, and finally Washburn Rural High School. A younger brother, Tanner, attends the University of Kansas.

Sneed credits her parents have been the greatest influence in her life. "They have given me so many opportunities to excel," she says. " They allow me to think independently, never discouraging me from trying something, and instilled all of the values and morals by which I live my life."

She also credits several MSSU faculty and staff members who have positively influenced her. These include Dr. James Jackson, Dr. Mel Mosher, Dr. Pat Kluthe, Holly Goodnight, Amy Ryder, Trevor Wachsman, Dr. Chad Stebbins, Dr. Elaine Freeman, and Sally Beard.

Sarah Sneed has played soccer for the last 4 years at MSSU. In the most recent season, she earned All-Conference Honorable Mention, and was the second leading scorer on the Lions team. She has been on the All-Conference All-Academic team every year and was chosen for the National Soccer Coaches Association All-Region All-Academic Team Honorable Mention.

As she concludes one phase of her education, another, even more challenging one remains ahead: She has been accepted at Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience. She will study there for four years. Sarah Sneed says eventually she would like to get married and have a family while practicing medicine.

"I feel as if my time at Southern is the perfect example of the American dream," Sneed comments. "I worked hard, took advantage of opportunities open to me and will earn two degrees. I studied abroad twice, played four years of a varsity sport, made many life long friends, and will be going to medical school in the fall. And I did all of this for free.

"There aren't too many institutions that give students so many opportunities, who take so much time to see students' potential, and who do not discourage them from living out their dreams," she adds.

She has been chosen to do prostate cancer research at Imperial College, a branch of the University of London. She will continue her study and research in London through the end of April.

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