About 100 students in West Virginia University s full-time MBA program and other business graduate-degree programs will participate in hooding ceremonies at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, in the Mountainlair ballrooms.

These will include students in the Universitys business administration, industrial relations , professional accountancy and economics programs.

Among them will be Paul Cunningham, who may at that time know whether he will take part in the Summer Olympics in Beijing. An MBA student from New Plymouth, New Zealand, and WVU mens soccer team standout, Cunningham is on the waiting list for his countrys Olympic soccer team.

I am really excited about the chance to participate in the Olympics,Cunningham said.You work your whole life and then not to make the cut of 22 is a kick in the guts. I would love to be there, but in order for that to happen, someone would have to get hurt, and you never want to wish that upon anyone.

Nearly 500 people are expected to attend the hooding ceremony.