During her time at Bowling Green, Grace Bryant discovered a passion for being on the microphone at athletics events, which led directly to an early-career opportunity after graduation. (BGSU photo / Hailey Petit-Mastroianni)
A Thompson Scholar while at BGSU, Grace Bryant found the freedom to explore career options as a student.
Grace Bryant ’24, ’26 earned the Thompson Working Families Scholarship during her time at Bowling Green State University, which changed the trajectory of her life. With her financial burden to college lifted, Bryant tried a bit of everything in the sports industry before she found her calling bringing energy on the mic.
Key Highlights
Alum: Grace Bryant '24, '26
Scholarship: Thompson Working Families Scholarship
Majors: Communications, sport administration and kinesiology
Removing barriers to higher education
The Thompson Working Families Scholarship not only provides financial assistance to high-performing students like Grace Bryant ’24, ’26, but it also helps create networks and fosters a culture of giving back through service.
Finding a career path in college
In large part due to the freedom her scholarship granted, Bryant tried a variety of career options in the sports industry before settling on marketing and in-arena hosting, where she flourished as a BGSU student.
Making a professional debut
Shortly after graduating from BGSU, the Toledo Mud Hens tabbed Bryant to be an in-arena host for their home games. She will begin hosting for the Toledo Walleye during their upcoming season.
“Without that scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to get involved in all the things I did. My undergrad would have looked so different. In the end, I was more than happy to write my thank-you letter to the Thompsons at the end of my senior year because I was able to find my passions and make so many friends at BGSU.”
GRACE BRYANT ’24, ’26
BGSU ALUMNA
THOMPSON SCHOLAR
On a jam-packed Saturday at Bowling Green State University, Grace Bryant ’24, ’26 found herself in the middle of everything.
Twenty-four hours earlier, the BGSU Department of Athletics discovered it needed a fill-in MC for home games in basketball and hockey the next night, and a member of the staff asked Bryant if she would be interested. It was a completely new experience for Bryant, who said yes to public speaking in front of thousands of fans.
The next day, Bryant filled in admirably at the Stroh Center, finished the basketball game, ran over to Slater Family Ice Arena in time for puck drop at the Mason Cup playoffs, brought enthusiasm to the evening hockey game – and had so much fun that she discovered a career path in the process.
“That game completely changed the trajectory of what I wanted to do,” Bryant said. “At the time, I didn’t know what, exactly, I wanted to do in the sports industry. It was that experience where I said, ‘Oh my gosh, I have never smiled this big.’
“I had so much fun being able to get our fans hyped up. I knew that was what I wanted to do.”
Bryant not only enjoyed herself, but she also demonstrated a natural aptitude for being on the mic – and others noticed. She became the full-time MC for the Falcons’ home football, basketball, volleyball and hockey games, and shortly after graduation, the Toledo Mud Hens and Toledo Walleye offered her an in-arena hosting role as well.
As a student at BGSU, Bryant explored a variety of interests in the sports world to find the one that suited her best, a journey that was made possible only because of a one-of-a-kind scholarship program at the University.
The Thompson Working Families Scholarship not only provides tuition assistance to high-achieving students, it also creates a network through which students give back to their communities, give and receive support to other Thompson Scholars and make the most of their time at BGSU without financial burdens.
For Bryant, who was raised by a single mother, being a Thompson Scholar allowed her the freedom to explore career options as a BGSU undergraduate.
In addition to a bachelor’s degree in communications, Bryant explored roles on the football team’s video and recruiting staffs, on Screech Team and within athletics marketing. Later, as she pursued a master’s degree in sport administration, she discovered in-game hosting, ultimately enjoying the experience so much that she made the latter her career goal.
“I really pushed myself to get out of my comfort zone and try things, even if I wasn’t sure I would be interested,” she said. “If I didn’t like it or it wasn’t something that filled my cup, I was still able to say, ‘OK, I experienced this, but it’s not the journey I want to take. What else can I try?’ If I had had those financial restrictions, it would have been so much more discouraging to try things the way I did.
“I was really able to breathe because I knew I had the Thompson Scholarship and school was taken care of.”
Beyond having a network that includes a dedicated advisor, Thompson Scholars complete service that connects with their values, creating a spirit of giving back through education that is the hallmark of the program.
For Bryant, service opportunities allowed her to reconnect with her school district in Ashland, Ohio, a rewarding experience that complemented her education.
“I loved the service aspect of the program,” she said. “The Thompson family has given so much, so it really felt like one of the ways you could keep earning that scholarship, in a sense, was to always give back to BG or the community. It always made me feel good to give back.”
As Bryant prepares for her full season with the Walleye, Toledo’s beloved ECHL team and an affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, she said she remains grateful that her time at BGSU, and the scholarship that made it possible, allowed her to find where she fit into the sports industry.
“Without that scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to get involved in all the things I did. My undergrad would have looked so different,” Bryant said. “In the end, I was more than happy to write my thank-you letter to the Thompsons at the end of my senior year because I was able to find my passions and make so many friends at BGSU.”
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Updated: 09/16/2026 01:30PM