Volleyball's Thompson Earns 69th Charles Orsborn Award

The Orsborn Award is the most prestigious award presented by Bradley University to a graduating student-athlete

Bobby Parker, Sr. Associate AD for Communications and Event & Facility Operations General 5/2/2022 8:00:00 PM

PEORIA, IL – One of the most-accomplished student-athletes in Bradley Volleyball history, Hannah Thompson (Pekin, IL/Pekin HS) added to her list of awards with the most-prestigious honor Bradley University presents to a graduating student-athlete when she received the 69th Charles Orsborn Monday night to culminate the 2022 Kaboom! Awards, presented by RE/MAX Traders, at Renaissance Coliseum.

Named in honor of the school's former four-sport student-athlete, men's basketball coach and athletic director, the Orsborn Award recognizes the graduating senior student-athlete who has best combined athletic and academic achievement with community service. Orsborn was a member of the "Famous Five" Bradley Basketball teams that played in the first two National Invitation Tournaments in 1938 and 1939 and earned an invitation to the first NCAA Tournament in 1939. Orsborn directed the Braves to three NIT championships during his nine-year tenure as men's basketball head coach from 1956-65, earning the distinction of Bradley Basketball Coach of the Century during the celebration of the program's first 100 seasons, and he served as Director of Athletics from 1965-78.

Thompson was selected for the 2022 Orsborn Award from a trio of finalists that also included cross country and track runner McKenzie Altmayer (Geneva, IL/Geneva HS) and baseball player Connor O'Brien (San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS).

Thompson is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, earning second-team honors in 2021 after collecting third-team recognition during the delayed 2020-21 season. The 5-foot-8 outside hitter was a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection, ending her career as one of just three student-athletes in Valley history to collect 1,300 career kills (1,377) and 1,900 career digs (1,902). Boasting a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average, the health science major was the 2021 MVC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Prior to the presentation of the Orsborn Award, Bradley Athletics announced the winners of eight additional awards:

20th Megan C. Fong Inspiration Award
Ari Boya, Men's Basketball

39th Carl Grose Service Award
Jack Franklin, Men's Cross Country/Track

24th Special Recognition Award
Marty O'Brien (posthumously)

16th Coach Joe Stowell Awards
Male
Riley Burger, Men's Basketball

Female
Sarah Nacos, Women's Golf

20th Orville Nothdurft Lifetime Achievement Award
Hon. James E. Shadid '79, Baseball

Individual Performances of the Year
Men's
Michael Rebello, Men's Indoor Track – Sweeping the MVC Indoor Track championships in the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters

Women's
Gabi Haack, Women's Basketball – 24 points and eight rebounds while becoming the program's all-time leading scorer in the Nov. 19 win against Wisconsin

The annual Varsity Club Most Outstanding Male and Female Athletes will be announced this summer upon the completion of the 2021-22 competition year. Bradley Baseball, Softball and the Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field teams all still are in season.

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