Support For A Bright Future: Sage Thomas

2024 graduate Sage Thomas received a scholarship from WSF to help her pursue her degree while competing on the rodeo team at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Pursuing a college degree challenges students to balance classroom hours, study sessions, and seemingly endless tests. Add in the extra effort required to compete on a college rodeo team, and it takes determination and commitment to stay at the top in both the classroom and the arena.

When Sage Thomas transferred from Purdue University to the University of Tennessee at Martin with hopes of competing on the school’s rodeo team, she knew she faced a real challenge. Not only would she be splitting her time between course work and rodeo, but she had to do it while finding a way to pay for her education.

“When I left Purdue, I left all my scholarship money and extended my estimated undergraduate career, as I was planning to graduate early from Purdue,” she recalled.

That’s where Western Sports Foundation stepped in, granting Thomas a scholarship that allowed her to keep doing what she loved.  

 “This scholarship has had a great impact on my academic and rodeo opportunities,” Thomas revealed. “It allowed me to continue to pursue my academic goals and reach my ultimate career goal, as well as enabling me to rodeo during my time at UTM.”

Now, after graduating along with the Class of 2024, Thomas looks ahead to a bright future, but she credits WSF and our generous donors for providing the support she needed throughout her collegiate career.

“Western Sports Foundation opened a gate to many great opportunities,” she shared. “As a college student and athlete, it is unbelievable that I have access to financial planning, nutrition advice, and workout programming all at the tip of my fingers. WSF allowed me to study and compete to the best of my abilities and is helping me reach my full potential in and out of the arena.”