The 13th annual Patrick K. Thornton Memorial Award has been presented to Maya Moise and Kai Cowin, both graduating members of the Class of 2026. Moise and Cowin co-founded the Rice Sport Law Society, which made history as the first-ever undergraduate team to compete in the Tulane International Baseball Arbitration Competition and Tulane Fútbol Negotiation Competition.
The award is presented to graduating students majoring in Sport Management with a concentration in Sport Law who demonstrate a promising future in the field of law. It is named in honor of Patrick K. Thornton, a professor and lecturer in Rice's Department of Sport Management from 2003 to 2012.
“Patrick Thornton was not only a respected sports law scholar and educator, but also someone who dedicated his life to mentorship, service, and expanding opportunities for others,” Moise said. “To be associated with a legacy like that, especially as someone who has found so much purpose through sports law, is incredibly humbling.”
Moise attended high school in Florida. Although sports were an enormous part of her upbringing, she planned to embark on the pre-med track at Rice in hopes of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. However, courses in the Sport Management department opened her eyes to the Sport Law concentration.
“I started paying attention to what genuinely energized me,” Moise said. “I found myself looking forward to my sport management and sports law classes in ways I hadn’t experienced before. I realized I was more excited talking about athlete advocacy, branding, contracts, and organizational strategy than I was studying for organic chemistry exams.”
Upon committing to the Sport Law concentration, Moise found that being a member of Rice Sport Management created opportunities that she never would have imagined.
“The moment I allowed myself to pursue something that truly aligned with who I was, everything changed,” Moise said. “Opportunities started opening up, mentors entered my life, and for the first time, I felt fully connected to the work I was doing.”
Moise uses her experience as an opportunity to inspire other undergraduate students arriving at Rice. She encourages students to try something new and be willing to change directions.
“I think a lot of students come into college believing they need to have their entire future figured out immediately, but some of the most meaningful growth comes from allowing yourself to evolve,” Moise said. “Some of the best opportunities in my life came from taking risks, trying something unfamiliar, or walking away from paths that no longer aligned with who I was becoming.”
During her time at Rice, Moise completed internships with Rice Athletics, Distinction Agency, and WME Basketball. She also worked as a 50/50 Jackpot Fundraising Representative for the Houston Texans, served as a talent escort at three different NFL Honors ceremonies, and was a Teaching Assistant for Rice’s Advanced Sport Law course taught by Professor in the Practice Stephanie Wilka.
“There is no doubt in my mind that we will see Maya’s name again,” Wilka said. “Her future in sports—and in law—is going to be exciting to watch.”
Moise also left her mark on campus as the Founder and Managing Director of N.E.S.T., an NIL and Education Support Team designed to provide undergraduate student-athletes with agency-level training in NIL, athlete representation, branding, and marketing strategy.
While completing undergraduate coursework at Rice, Moise also wrote a paper on the House v. NCAA settlement, a case that opened the door for student-athletes to be compensated. Her paper was ultimately published in the Harvard Undergraduate Law Review.
“This level of scholarship requires sustained effort, intellectual curiosity, and an extraordinary commitment to the work. There is simply no substitute for the time, discipline, and passion Maya invested in this project,” Wilka said. “Maya didn't do this for recognition, but out of a genuine love for the law and a desire to understand its impact. Her publication in the Harvard Undergraduate Law Review is a testament to what is possible when students work hard, embrace challenge, and follow a career path that genuinely excites them.”
Now that she has graduated from Rice, Moise will prepare for law school while continuing her athletic career as an international powerlifter. She said that she is dedicated to being an advocate for other athletes as they embark on their own athletic careers.
“I’m passionate about helping athletes maximize opportunities beyond their sport and ensuring they feel supported not only professionally, but personally as well,” Moise said. “Ultimately, I want to help build an industry where athletes feel empowered, protected, and seen as complete people and CEOs of their own future.”
Cowin, who co-founded the Rice Sport Law Society with Moise, arrived on campus in 2021. He is a German-American who grew up in Bretten, Germany. He said that college wasn’t initially in his plans, as he wanted to be a farmer. However, once he heard about Rice’s offerings, he became attracted to the university and its programs.
“I ultimately chose Rice after researching its political science department and discovering the Baker Institute, which offered an incredible range of speakers, events, and opportunities for intellectual engagement,” Cowin said.
Similar to Moise, Cowin said that he didn’t intend to major in Sport Management when he arrived in Houston. He explored offerings in various departments, expressing gratitude to Rice for giving undergraduate students the freedom to explore disciplines in various fields of study.
According to Cowin, Professor in the Practice Tom Stallings was responsible for introducing him to the Department of Sport Management.
“We first met at Baker [College] while I was eating lunch, and our conversation began around my fascination with table tennis,” Cowin said. “What struck me immediately was how much genuine care and effort he invested in his students’ success. That stayed with me. Two days later, I knocked on his office door, we talked, and the rest is history.”
As an undergraduate, Cowin interned for Alston & Bird, Bucket List Events, and the West Palm Beach State Attorney’s Office. He was also a Teaching Assistant in Wilka’s Sport Law course, the President of Rice’s Table Tennis Club, and a member of the undergraduate team that advanced to the semifinal round of the Tulane Fútbol Negotiation Competition.
Following his graduation, Cowin plans to work at an investigations firm for a year before pursuing a master’s degree in a technology-related field, followed by a J.D.
“Sport Management has had a profound impact on my career path,” Cowin said. “The program’s strong emphasis on internships and practical experience helped me rethink what I valued in an undergraduate education and gave me a much clearer sense of direction.”
Inspired by discovering his own passions and interests at Rice, Cowin offered advice to future undergraduate students.
“My biggest advice for incoming Sport Management students is simple: Do the work, be passionate, and pursue what genuinely interests you. Rice Sport Management offers world-class resources; make sure to take full advantage of them.”
Andersen Pickard, a Rice senior from New Hampshire, is studying Statistics and Sport Analytics while serving as the Student Assistant Director of Analytics for Rice Baseball.