King's Student-Athlete shares the convenient experience of residence-life

Written by Spenser Henstock, Communications Intern

Emma Thomas is a focused and goal oriented King’s student-athlete who plays defence on the Western Mustangs Women’s Hockey Team. As a first year Sociology student, Thomas received the King’s Academic Athletic Entrance Scholarship.

From Burlington, Ontario, Thomas has played for several hockey teams near her hometown, notably the Kitchener/Waterloo Jr. Rangers. Emma wears #34 and plays regularly with the Mustangs, an impressive accomplishment for a first-year athlete. She describes her playing style as not only “being able to read the play really well,” but also “being able to get the puck off my stick quickly”.

Upon arriving at King's, Thomas experienced first-hand King’s easily-accessible campus and small class sizes. In the lectures and around campus, Thomas appreciates that her professors know her. Thomas credits her adjustment to university life through choosing to live in King’s Residence and the convenience it provides: the cafeteria is close, and the library is a safe two-minute walk from her residence.

During her application and course selection process, Thomas says King’s supported her as a student-athlete. She appreciated when the King’s Academic Dean’s Office recommended courses that fit her varsity hockey schedule. “King’s had my program, and I could grow into it,” says Thomas.

Thomas enjoyed carefully selecting courses that would help her achieve her goals while at King’s which are acceptance into the King’s Honours Specialization Criminology program (in second year), and receiving the King’s Student-Athlete Continuing Scholarship. Her varsity athletic goals include winning an OUA hockey title, and the National Championship for the Mustangs.

When reflecting on her first semester at King’s, Thomas said “this is the kind of place I wanted to be; King’s was definitely the right choice for me”.