Awards and accolades can sometimes fail to truly reflect a person's character, determination and intelligence. After winning her fourth Mid-American Conference Scholar-Athlete award this season, UB track star Faith Thompson just might be the exception.
A native of nearby Niagara Falls, Thompson is finishing her fifth year as a psychology major and track star at UB. A cumulative GPA of 3.97 and Buffalo records in the indoor weight throw, along with both indoor and outdoor school records in the shot put, mark Thompson as the consummate student-athlete.
But while many college students might be thrilled with achieving just one of her numerous accomplishments, resting on her laurels is not Thompson's style.
"I want to go to nationals. I'm putting in the work now," said Thompson. "Hopefully I can get top five at regionals so I can go to Sacramento (for the NCAA Championships) this season."
Thompson was a distinguished athlete even before college. While at Niagara Falls High School, she captained the track team for two seasons and earned six letters for the four-time Niagara Frontier League champions. The versatile Thompson also played center for the school's basketball team.
Track team duties and schoolwork make up only a fraction of her life, however. Very active in her church from a young age, Thompson is a member of the adult choir.
When she has time to go home, she also finds time in her hectic schedule to assist her church's children's choir.
" This past year I've been so busy. I haven't been home, so I'm really looking forward to doing that more next year," said Thompson. "It's where I grew up and has helped mold the person I've come to be, so I just want to help and give back to it."
With finals just around the corner, and the MAC Championships in the not-too-distant future, good time management skills become an obvious necessity. With this on her mind, Thompson just smiles.
"I study when I have to ... It's mainly a balance of time," she said. "If you have good time management skills, you can do it all."
It would seem as though doing it all is an understatement for Thompson, who has maintained a stellar GPA while finding time to attend practice and the numerous events in which she competes.
Thompson, who attributes much of her success to the Buffalo coaching staff, is especially grateful to the team's throwing coach, Jim Garnham, Sr.
"He believed in me before I believed in myself," she said.
It was not just Thompson's throwing coach who helped her along, however.
"They just taught me to have more confidence. Everyone on the coaching staff has been supportive whether they were my specific coach or not," she said.
Throughout her tenure here at Buffalo, Thompson has given the school her all on the field and in the classroom, and has gained a lot of character through what she has gone through in and out of the classroom.
"I've just enjoyed the time here at UB. I'm really grateful for the people that have been here for me, and I'm going to take a lot away from this experience," she said.
Thompson, and the rest of the track and field team will be in action Friday and Saturday at the Bison Open.
