Get to know Bowie HS volleyball captain Maya Cottom
AUSTIN, Texas — As the spring semester kicks off families will soon be making plans for senior photos, graduation gifts, and college visits. They鈥檒l also be figuring out how they鈥檒l put on a brave face while their hearts nearly explode with pride, joy, love, and epic sadness about their babies growing up and starting the next chapter. Over the coming months, we鈥檒l be shining a spotlight on some of the graduating seniors in this community. Let鈥檚 celebrate their accomplishments and wish them all the best as they learn to fly (and hopefully some really cool parents will break out the dad-jams to play that Tom Petty song!)
Maya Cottom is a senior at Bowie High School who does it all. She鈥檚 known for her big energy, signature loud laugh, and for being a leader. She brings a lot of fun and laughter to every situation and is a kind and generous friend. She鈥檚 also an amazing sister to her three younger siblings, often helping with homework, driving them to their events, or taking them shopping, or doing fun things together. Not only was she a three-year Varsity Volleyball player, but she was also captain of the team this year and received the Bulldog Award for volleyball which is awarded to one player per sport each year at Bowie.
The recipient is the player who most encompasses the spirit and values of the program. Outside of school she also played five years of club volleyball with Austin Juniors and loved to travel to compete.
But she鈥檚 not just a superstar volleyball player either. She was a member of the track team sophomore, junior, and senior year with shot put being her favorite event. During her junior year, she joined the lacrosse team to mix things up a bit. She鈥檚 also a member of the National Honor Society and in the top five percent of her class at Bowie. And to round it out she鈥檚 also Vice President of Earth Club and an Astronomy Club leadership team member. And if you thought her plate was full with all of that, she also works at Keeper鈥檚 Coastal Kitchen! She鈥檚 a hard worker and pays meticulous attention to detail. She pours her heart and soul into everything and faces challenges head-on.
When we asked Maya鈥檚 mom Natalie about a memory that truly reflected who Maya is, she told us this sweet story. 鈥淲hen Maya was in third grade she and two of her neighbor friends decided they wanted to have “a carnival for charity.” Their idea snowballed and they pulled together some homegrown fun in the front yard, invited their friends, charged admission, collected cans of food and monetary donations, and donated over $1000 to charity! The girls proudly visited the Central Texas Food Bank to drop off the donation and this was such a perfect illustration of Maya’s personality. She doesn’t take no for an answer, and she doesn’t see obstacles to the things she wants to accomplish.鈥�
This skill set translated into competing in sports as she grew older. She was a competitive swimmer from fourth through sixth grade, swimming in the state championships (TAGS) each year. From there she moved on to volleyball, then added track and lacrosse to her schedule. She loves to compete but decided not to pursue playing sports in college. She will be studying Landscape Architecture/Environmental Planning at Utah State University where she received the Presidential Academic Scholarship which is a phenomenal four years of full tuition. Maya loves the outdoors, camping, hiking, and taking road trips to National Parks. She’s excited about living in Utah to experience all four seasons and will have quick access to amazing outdoor destinations.
Her family is incredibly proud of the young woman Maya has grown up to be. They鈥檙e excited about her next chapter and can鈥檛 wait to see this sweet little girl who always knew exactly what she wanted blossom and become who she was always meant to be.
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