Allstate Honors MSU Soccer Star, Senior Scholar; Berry Named Allstate Student-Athlete of the Week.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Keeping her eye on the ball and consistently reaching for the goal is something April Berry does both on and off the field at Mississippi State University in Starkville. Putting in a near-perfect performance in the classroom while helping lead the Lady Bulldog soccer team to a Southeastern Conference (SEC) divisional title are just a few of the reasons Allstate Insurance Company recognizes Berry as the Allstate Student-Athlete of the Week, a distinguished community involvement award honoring an outstanding student athlete who characterizes local community pride, leadership and excellence in all areas of his or her academic career.

A senior physical education major, Berry is first on the Lady Bulldog Soccer team to attain five assists on the field, and currently places second in the SEC in that same category. But her on-field records don't stop there. Berry is one of only six in the history of the MSU lady soccer program to record ten or more assists in her athletic career.

After kicking the ball around with her teammates, April puts in plenty of time hitting the books as well. Berry just finished the 2004 summer term with a flawless 4.0 grade point average (GPA). This distinction earned her the Lady Bulldog's Head of the Class Award for highest GPA. Just one year earlier, the SEC recognized Berry after turning in an overall 3.91 GPA, placing her on the conference's Academic Honor Roll.

"April is a very dedicated athlete both on the field and in the classroom," said Mississippi State head coach Neil McDonald. "Her attentiveness to detail and strong work ethic are her most defining characteristics. She works hard for everything she gets and that's what makes her so valuable as a student-athlete."

Berry is a native of Arlington, Texas. The 21-year-old Midfielder will earn her degree in May 2005.

"Allstate is proud to recognize April as an inspiration to young student-athletes all over the Mississippi area," said Kerry Nations, director of marketing, Allstate southern region. "She is a leader in every sense of the word and we wish her much success."

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate(R) slogan, Allstate helps individuals in more than 16 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through more than 12,900 exclusive agencies and financial specialists in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate(R). Encompass(SM) and Deerbrook(R) Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, annuity, retirement, banking and investment products through distribution channels that include Allstate agencies, independent agencies, worksite, financial institutions and broker-dealers.

EDITOR'S NOTE: High-resolution, digital art was distributed with this release. Additional photos, formats and interview requests with Allstate officials or Ms. Berry may be secured by contacting Allstate Southern Region Corporate Relations: 615-871-7542 or [e-mail].