Sept. 17, 2008

Complete List of Lowe's Senior Class Candidates

(Kansas City, MO) - Kate Murphy, a senior forward on the Memphis women's soccer team, has been selected as a candidate for the 2008 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Murphy, the Lady Tiger's co-captain for both the 2007 and 2008 seasons, is one of thirty female soccer players from around the nation that has been selected as a candidate for this prestigious award.  

Along with her role as a team captain she has headed up a defense that allowed only 0.86 goals per game. Her most impressive accomplishments at Memphis however have not been on the field, but as a student. Murphy maintains a 4.0 cumulative grade point average with her international business curriculum.

For her outstanding academics as well as her play on the field, Murphy was named to the 2007 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America and District IV first team for her junior year.

About the 2008 Lowe's Senior Class Award:

Thirty male and thirty female senior student-athletes who have displayed both

on-field and off-field excellence have been selected as candidates for the 2008 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in the men's soccer and women's soccer divisions. The award, given annually to senior student athletes across nine NCAA Division I sports, has become one of the most prestigious honors in college athletics and is sponsored by Lowe's, an Official Corporate Partner of the NCAA. These individuals qualified based on their dedication and achievement in four areas: Classroom, Character, Community, and Competition.

The Lowe's Senior CLASS Award is distinctive from many other honors in that on-the-field performance is only one factor in determining candidacy - a major emphasis is placed on off-the-field commitments and personal character. The award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards that a senior season can bring.

The 2008 candidates on the women's side represent 26 different NCAA colleges and universities and 19 athletics conferences across the country. From the list of 30 candidates (complete list attached), a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the 2008 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in both divisions in October.

Those 10 names from each division will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote beginning October 9 and concluding November 19. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award. Winners will be announced during the 2008 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championships in Cary, North Carolina, scheduled for December 5-7, and during the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championships in Frisco, Texas, scheduled for December 12-14.

"The caliber of individuals in this year's senior class of soccer players made narrowing the field to 30 for each category very difficult," said Bob Gfeller, Lowe's senior vice president of marketing and advertising. "We are ecstatic to see how many talented senior student-athletes are electing to use their skills not only on the playing field, but also in the classroom and in the community."

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched during the 2001-02 season in response to the trend of college basketball players leaving college early to turn professional. The award was conceived by sportscaster Dick Enberg, who continues to serve as Honorary Chairman, and has recognized winners in men's and women's basketball for seven years. Lowe's extended

the award in 2006 to include baseball, softball, men's hockey and men's lacrosse, then in 2007 added men's and women's soccer. The award will also include the sport of football this fall, bringing the total awards program to nine NCAA Division I sports.

For more information, visit www.seniorclassaward.com.