Mikki Dowell Vinson
Inducted in 2008
Volleyball/Softball
As a Lion
Michelle "Mikki" Dowell came to Freed-Hardeman University in the fall of 1993 from Sullivan South High School in Kingsport, Tenn., where she was a highly decorated athlete in volleyball, basketball, and softball.
While at FHU, Vinson was part of both the volleyball and softball teams and played a key role in helping to elevate each of those programs to the next level. Between the two sports, she was named first team all-conference seven times, four times in volleyball and three times in softball. Her on-field play and leadership helped lead both programs to their first 30-win seasons, softball in 1995 and volleyball in 1996.
As much as Vinson excelled on the volleyball court and softball field, she perhaps excelled even more in the classroom. Carrying a 3.84 GPA while majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry, she was a three-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete. In fact, it was her academic career that cut her softball career short by one season as she was accepted into the physical therapy program at the University of Tennessee at Memphis.
While at FHU, Vinson was part of both the volleyball and softball teams and played a key role in helping to elevate each of those programs to the next level. Between the two sports, she was named first team all-conference seven times, four times in volleyball and three times in softball. Her on-field play and leadership helped lead both programs to their first 30-win seasons, softball in 1995 and volleyball in 1996.
As much as Vinson excelled on the volleyball court and softball field, she perhaps excelled even more in the classroom. Carrying a 3.84 GPA while majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry, she was a three-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete. In fact, it was her academic career that cut her softball career short by one season as she was accepted into the physical therapy program at the University of Tennessee at Memphis.
After Graduation
At the time of her induction in 2008, Vinson resides in Huntsville, Ala., with her husband, Jeff, and stepson, Tyler. She works there as a physical therapist with HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital.