Family of former Lady Tiger volleyball player donates $50,000

Looking to provide other volleyball players at Cowley College the same experience as their daughter, Erin Thompson had at the school, Keith and Tracy Thompson recently donated $50,000 to the Cowley College Foundation to be used for endowed scholarships.

Erin played volleyball at Cowley during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. She is a 2020 graduate of Bryant High School in Alexander, Arkansas, where she played three seasons of volleyball. In her senior season, she totaled 228 digs at 2.6 digs per set and totaled 16 aces. Thompson improved her training by being invited to train in the USA Volleyball High Performance A3 Training Program in 2017 and 2019. Also, in 2019, she enhanced her training at the USA Volleyball Delta Region High Performance Training Camp, where she was honored as Best Defensive Player among many talented athletes. Outside of her high school training and her USA volleyball training, Thompson trained with Saline County Club, Little Rock Juniors, and 501 Volley national volleyball club.

Known as a fierce competitor and a loyal teammate, her positive energy is apparent on and off the court. Thompson is always setting goals for herself to improve her playing skills. Her love of the game and the leadership skills that she developed assisted her in being named libero for the Tigers for the 2020 and 2021 seasons as well as team captain for the 2021 season.

The 2021 season for the Tigers was nothing short of amazing. The team won a school-record 41 matches in a row before finishing second in the NJCAA Division II national championship.

Education, whether it be from a trade school or a traditional university, is very important to the Thompson family. For many years they have sponsored the employees of their company, Thompson Electric, through a four-year apprenticeship program that equips their employees with the tools to become licensed electricians.

Several years ago, they endowed scholarships at their various alma maters to support the community and state where they live by awarding scholarships in a variety of fields of study as well as athletics.

“Cowley volleyball would like to thank Thompson Electric and the Thompson family for their generous donation for the Erin I. Thompson Volleyball Scholarship,” Cowley volleyball head coach Steven Gream said. “Erin was a born leader on and off the court and displayed her love of volleyball with her infectious energy. This scholarship is a true testament of that love of the game and Cowley volleyball, and we are forever thankful that she and her family were a part of our program.”

Erin is continuing her volleyball career at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Rama Peroo | Director of Institutional Communication
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
rama.peroo@cowley.edu