Warrensburg, Mo. (Feb. 12, 2000) -- Former Jennies' softball player Alison Bucher is the 2000 recipient of the Dr. Mildred Barnes Scholarship at Central Missouri State University.

Established in 1999 in honor of the longtime CMSU physical education instructor and former Jennies' basketball coach, the scholarship is awarded annually to a Jennies student-athlete who has completed her athletic eligibility and who is within 24 credit hours of graduation.

A biology major from Bartlesville, Okla. (B.H.S.), Bucher played four seasons (1996-99) for the Jennies. Last spring she hit .336 to help lead the Jennies to a 34-16 record, en route to earning first-team Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association all-league honors at first base and was an academic all-MIAA selection. She is the daughter of Tom and Brenda Bucher of Bartlesville.

Dr. Barnes was on the CMSU physical education faculty for 22 years (1969-91) before retiring and was the Jennies' head basketball coach for nine years (1971-80), guiding the squad to a 156-63 record and two Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) state titles.