September 21, 2004
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan announced today (Tuesday, Sept. 21) that Matt Niemeyer ( http://www.mgoblue.com/bio.cfm?bio_id=235§ion_id=294&top=2&level=3 ) (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs HS), a fifth-year senior on the Wolverines men’s soccer team, is one of three U-M students to be selected to the annual Rhodes Scholar competition. The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest and one of the most prestigious international scholarships.
“Matt Niemeyer is an outstanding young man who is an asset to our soccer program, our athletic department, and our University,” said head coach Steve Burns. “His competitive instincts, keen intellect, and ability to focus on a goal make him a tremendous nominee to represent our University in the Rhodes Scholarship Competition.”
Niemeyer, a mechanical engineering major in the College of Engineering, will represent the University at the state-wide competition in November at which his application will be reviewed and he will be interviewed. If selected at the state level, he will then advance to the regional competition where he will face another round of interviews. If selected at the regional level, he will be one of 32 college students in the country awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. Rhodes Scholars are elected for two years of study at Oxford University with an option for a third year. All expenses are paid by the Rhodes Trustees.
“I’m pretty excited and pretty nervous at the same time,” said Niemeyer. “I am honored to be representing the University. There are a lot of very smart and talented students that attend this University and I am very honored to be chosen from among them. I know there is still a lot of work to do to prepare for the next step, but so far it has been a fun process.”
Michigan (6-0) will start a six-game road trip this weekend with matches at Rutgers and Long Island. The Wolverines will face Rutgers on Friday (Sept. 24) at 6 p.m. in Piscataway, N.J., and then take on Long Island on Sunday (Sept. 26) at noon in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Contact: Paul Dickerson (734) 763-4423