WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: THOMSEN RECEIVES OEC CHARACTER CHAMPION AWARD

Fullerton is proud to announce that sophomore basketball guard Melody Thomsen is this year's recipient of the Orange Empire Conference Character Award.

Each year, the Orange Empire Conference chooses one female and one male to represent the best in the OEC. The award is handed out to a student athlete who displays the following values; caring, civility, fairness, honesty, integrity, respect, and sportsmanship. In addition, the student athlete must act as a role model put their team and teammates before oneself.
 
Thomsen has been a leader on and off the court. She is the captain of the Hornet basketball squad and a great teammate. With all of the things she balances, she still manages to average a 2.82 GPA. She is an ambassador for caring, and doing things the right way. 

On the court, Thomsen averaged 14.5 points a game for the Hornets along with 9.5 rebounds a game. She also totaled 9 double-double games. Faced with the challenge of being the only sophomore, captain, and leader on a team filled with freshmen, Melody still found a way to excel, being named to the second team All-Orange Empire Conference on a team that finished fourth at 7-7 in the OEC.

Off the court, Melody is an active member of the community and on campus. Thomsen helped feed the homeless by making sandwiches and handing them out in downtown Fullerton and at the "tent city" at the Santa Ana riverbed located next to the Angels stadium. She recently donated her time reading to children at the Literacy Fair at Las Lomas elementary school in La Habra, and for the last two years, has voluntarily led the clinic for both the women's and men's basketball teams for Kindercarminata, a day when hundreds of elementary school kids come to Fullerton College to experience what it's like to be a college student. 

Furthermore, when Melody is not working an event, you will find her in the stands cheering her fellow Hornets on to victory, or finding a way to help out without getting paid. Even then, when things need to get done, Mel will seek you out, asking what you need her to do. Also, when someone needs help, whether carrying extra bags or cleaning up after an event, or picking up trash, there is no task too big or too small for someone whose main desire is to be of service. Fullerton is fortunate to have a great individual like Melody Thomsen be part of the athletic program.

Congrats Mel!