Noah Thompson was awarded National Student-Athlete of the Year (Men’s Basketball Division II) this past Saturday evening at the USCAA National Tournament Banquet. Each year the USCAA selects one student-athlete per sport to receive this prestigious award that encompasses academics success, community involvement, and service.
Over the past four years at the University of Maine at Augusta, senior co-captain Noah Thompson has been a model student-athlete. Thompson is a three-year captain for the Moose and has been a leader and mentor to all incoming student-athletes. Noah has excelled both on the court and in the classroom. He has earned his way onto UMA’s Dean’s List numerous times and has worked incredibly hard to succeed academically while here at UMA.
Thompson is extremely involved on campus, serving as an admissions ambassador, where he helps to recruit new students to UMA. When asked about Thompson, Brandy Finck, Associate Vice President of Admissions & Student Financial Services noted “Noah has been a wonderful addition to our Ambassador team. Noah’s charismatic personality is a piece we will miss once he graduates. This is exemplified during his tours, which gives prospective students and their families a friendly and genuine welcome to campus. The way he connects with these students has enriched their on-campus experience. This comes naturally to him and is essential in providing a positive experience to our students. His commitment to prospective students and sharing how special UMA is to himself is a joy to witness.”
Noah’s impact spans beyond just the basketball court and the UMA campus. Two years ago, the University of Maine at Augusta added two young children to their basketball rosters through a non-profit called Team Impact. Team impact connects children facing serious and chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, allowing the opportunity for team members to form life-long bonds and facilitate life-changing outcomes. Emma and Carter, siblings with cystic fibrosis, who are now part of the Moose program, have truly been impacted by Noah. He is the first student-athlete to greet them when they attend activities and always makes sure they feel included. During games, you can hear the kids cheering for him while they root on the Moose.
Throughout his time here at UMA, Thompson helped fundraise for the Moose programs, taking a special interest in our annual golf team fundraiser where he helped to bring in seven members of his family from out of state to join in to raise money for the teams. He truly embodies our “Moose Family” mentality by making everyone around him feel like they are part of the family. This family mentality extends to opponents, opposing coaches, and refs, in which Thompson will often be seen sharing a smile, a hug, and a positive conversation. His sportsmanship is a trait that is truly valued. We cannot express the impact that Noah Thompson has had on our UMA community and our program. Please help us in recognizing him for earning this very prestigious award.
Go Moose!