Thompson Earns NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

MOORHEAD, Minn. (3/11/25)---Former Concordia football player Collin Thompson (Thatcher, Ariz.) was awarded one of the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships for the fall sports season, as announced by the NCAA Office. 

Thompson was one of only 42 (21 male/21 female) student-athletes to receive the scholarship across all of NCAA Division I, II and III. He is the only student-athlete from the MIAC to earn the NCAA's top scholarship. 

| Complete List of 2024 Fall NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Award Winners |

Thompson becomes the 11th Concordia student-athlete to receive the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship since 2004. He is also the third Cobber football player to earn the award.

"This scholarship will help me spend more time with my family and put more balance in my life," said Thompson. "Being young and trying to take care of a child, go to school and having a job is tough at times but this will help a lot."   

Thompson was a 2-time CSC Academic All-American who was a 3-time MIAC All-Conference honoree as well as the 2023 MIAC Most Outstanding Lineman (Mike Stam Award) and a D3football.com All-American and All-Region selection in 2023. 

Thompson, who has a 3.96 grade point average, was a graduate student this year in the Offut School of Business and is pursuing his master's degree in management science and quantitative methods. He will have one more year of graduate school and will use the money earned from the NCAA scholarship to help with tuition costs.

In addition to his work in the classroom and on the field, Thompson was also active with volunteer activities. He helped out with the annual InSports Foundation event on campus as well as volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, the YWCA and United Way.  

 "There are so many people who have made an impact on me to help me get this award," said Thompson. "There are three groups of people I need to thank. I have had tremendous professors and guidance from the academic personnel at Concordia. The entire football staff has made a huge impact on me, and the people I work with at Border States have gone out of their way to help make it possible to work, get an education and play a college sport."   
 

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship is a $10,000 postgraduate scholarship and was awarded to 42 exceptional student-athletes as part of the 2024-25 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program. These student-athletes, representing fall sports across all three NCAA divisions, have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements, athletic excellence and leadership within their communities.

 

Each year, the NCAA awards up to 126 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes who have completed their final year of athletics competition. The scholarships are distributed three times annually — in the fall, winter and spring — providing 21 scholarships each to men and women per season. The award is a one-time, nonrenewable scholarship intended to support graduate study at an accredited institution.

Established in 1964, the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program promotes and encourages graduate education by recognizing the Association's most accomplished student-athletes. The program evaluates candidates on their athletic and academic achievements, campus involvement, community service and leadership. An equitable selection process ensures that all nominees, regardless of sport, division, gender or race, are considered fairly.