The Youngstown State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is pleased to announce the Thom and Jill Bosse Family Scholarship to enhance the YSU Athletics Scholarship Endowment Fund.
Thom and Jill Bosse established this scholarship in September of 2019 on behalf of their family who proudly supports Youngstown State University Athletics.
Thom Bosse is a proud YSU graduate was a member of the Men’s Swimming team and was a four-year letterwinner from 1977-80. He became the first National Champion that YSU ever produced in swimming, when he captured the 400-yard Individual Medley in 1978. He was a six-time Penn Ohio Conference Champion, 3-time Mid Continent Conference Champion, a 24-time Penn Ohio Conference All Conference member and a 12-time Mid Continent Conference All Conference member. He was awarded the Most Valuable Swimmer as a sophomore in 1978 and as a senior in 1980.
The Bosse’s now reside in Franklin, Tenn. with their son, Connor. Thom Bosse taught Special Education and coached boys and girl’s high school swimming and water polo in Cincinnati. He then entered the business world, working for GlaxoSmithKline for 23 years. Thom and Jill are actively involved with organizations in the Nashville and Franklin areas that benefit children and adults with special needs.
Thom was selected to the Youngstown State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990. He is one of just three men’s swimmers in the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Thom and Connor recently attended the Penguins home swimming and diving meet against Valparaiso. It was the first intercollegiate dual meet for the program since 1984.
“YSU gave me an opportunity to be a student-athlete and obtain personal goals in the pool but also set me up academically for success when I graduated,” Bosse said. “I am happy to be able to give back to other student-athletes to help them achieve dreams and accomplishments. I have been fortunate to continue to achieve numerous goals and hope this scholarship is a way of providing that same opportunity to other student athletes.”
The scholarship will be awarded to a student-athlete on the men’s swimming and diving program with preference given to an Education Major in Special or Elementary Education.
Paul McFadden, President of the YSU Foundation, said the Bosse’s donation is important to the new men’s swimming and diving program.
“We were very fortunate to have Thom and his son, Connor, come back to see the Penguins compete and give them the recognition they deserve,” McFadden said. “The family has long appreciated what Youngstown State has done for them and Thom’s gift, as one of the best swimmers in the program’s history, shows his pride in the program.”
What a generous and wonderful act of gratitude to the sport of swimming in general and to Youngstown State in particular. Thom, and his siblings – swimming greats Ray (West Point swimmer and former head coach) and Janelle (Ohio State swimmer and former NCAA champion) are a credit to the Bosse family. “Pay it forward” is a phrase heard often but less frequently acted upon. It is fantastic that you have elected to express your gratitude to YSU with this gift. Thanks, Thom, for your leadership and vision.