Athletics history continues to be made at Columbia International University (CIU), as Georgia high school basketball standout KaRa (CAR-ah) Thompson became CIU’s first women’s basketball signee. CIU women’s and men’s basketball programs are scheduled to begin play this fall.     

KaRa, from Greenbrier High School in Evans, Ga., signed a letter of commitment Jan. 16 at CIU with her mother Melissa Wheat and high school coach Stefanie Basinger looking on. KaRa is a shooting guard for the Greenbrier Lady Pack which has a winning record of 14-3. KaRa is team captain, a scholar athlete and averaging in double figures.

CIU Women’s Basketball Coach Tammy Holder says KaRa possess all the qualities that CIU is looking for in a Christian student athlete – both on and off the court. 

“KaRa excels not only on the basketball court as a team leader, but is an outstanding student, and loves the Lord with all her heart,” Holder said.

KaRa, whose dream is to become a basketball coach, is looking forward to making CIU athletics history. 

“One of the things I’ve always wanted to do in my life is make history somehow, and this is making history,” KaRa said. “It’s a really exciting moment for me.”

CIU fielded teams in intercollegiate athletics for the first time in the school’s 90-year history in fall 2012. The first sports were men’s and women’s cross country and men’s soccer. CIU competes in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). For more on CIU athletics visit www.ciu.edu/athletics.