Though she came to college with no prior experience in table tennis, Honors student Hannah Thornton became the first female member of the TCU Table Tennis team by the end of her first semester in 2017. At that time, the club lacked a practice schedule and did not compete outside of TCU. Since then, thanks to dedicated team members like Hannah, the table tennis club has gained structure and momentum – growing in size from about 15 to 90 members.
Hannah serves as the club’s vice president, managing the team’s social media accounts and merchandise production, among other roles. Her commitment is a good example of an Honors student striving to create a culture of community at TCU. One of her favorite things about being involved in the table tennis team is meeting new people. She also enjoys watching her teammates improve their skills. The team now classifies as an official club sport that competes in regional tournaments, but Hannah says competition is just one part of what makes the organization special.
“Everyone’s having fun. In my position, I’ve been able to keep that culture there.”
Hannah is pursuing University Honors along with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. She hopes that after she graduates in 2021, someone will step up to fill her position.