Thompson Scholar credits program for successful college journey

Mitch Carrico ’26 found a second home within the Thompson Working Families Scholarship Program

As a recipient of the Thompson Working Families Scholarship, Mitch Carrico ’26 discovered that the program’s unique qualities proved to be exactly what he needed.

A recent Bowling Green State University graduate, Carrico’s introduction to college was a bumpy ride at times. Despite being a high-performing student with a firm grasp of what degree program he wanted to pursue, Carrico said he began to doubt himself. Away from home for the first time, Carrico questioned what he would do with his degree, questioned whether he was making the correct decisions and questioned whether he belonged in college at all.

Luckily, the program isn’t just financial aid – it’s a tight-knit community within a community in which each recipient has a dedicated advisor and a network of like-minded students ready to help. When Carrico needed a hand, he knew where to turn.

“I was definitely struggling,” he said. “I didn’t do any extracurriculars in high school, so coming to college was a really big change for me. It was all of the emotions you go through, but the program was there and my advisor was there. It was because of them that I was able to keep going and realize how much I wanted to be here.”

In April, Carrico served as the keynote speaker at the Thompson End of Year celebration, which not only marked the end of his time at BGSU but also recognized his successful journey to graduation day with the help of the Thompson network.

Robert ’55, ’06 (Hon.) and Ellen Bowen ’54, ’06 (Hon.) Thompson created the program to help high-achieving students overcome financial barriers to higher education. But the program goes much further than the average scholarship: each recipient completes service in and around Bowling Green to align with their own values, facilitates and maintains personal connections within the program, receives professional development opportunities and fosters a spirit of giving back after graduating.

For Carrico, connections at BGSU made a major difference. He met his best friend on his first day as a Thompson Scholar, and with his advisor, Claire Hoover, Carrico clarified his purpose in college, defined how to take logical next steps and consistently met challenges.

“My advisor was just doing her job, but you can really tell that the people in the program are committed to helping students,” Carrico said. “They’re being themselves, and they’re treating you like an adult. That really helped me.”

From the beginning, others in the Thompson program saw a burgeoning leader in Carrico. Though he’s naturally introverted, he proved consistently willing to challenge himself and go above and beyond to help his fellow students.

Carrico served as a leader at Summer Link, the orientation program for incoming Thompson Scholars, three years in a row. Each Thompson Scholar writes a letter to the Thompson family at the beginning and end of their college journey, and it was clear from the outset that Carrico’s values connected with the program.

“From the very first letter he wrote, he was talking about the value of helping people and connecting with others, which only got stronger throughout his four years,” Hoover said. “I’ve always been impressed by his self-advocacy. He knows what he wants, knows when it’s OK to take a step back but still tries challenging things that align with his values. I’ve seen him do that continuously.”

Professionally, Carrico clicked with his degree program, media production. Through his coursework, he discovered a love for producing television news, which he described as a puzzle that must be assembled for every broadcast.

Carrico gained experience and took on leadership roles with BG Falcon Media as a producer with Community Corner, the outlet’s weekly news program.

“This past year with BG Falcon Media really helped me grow in that area,” he said. “With Community Corner, I did all behind-the-scenes stuff, including writing everything. It was just so rewarding seeing the hard work of everybody involved come together every week.”

Four years after starting college as an unsure freshman, Carrico confidently stood in front of a ballroom full of people to deliver an address that touched on the value of everything for which the Thompson program stands: helping others, making connections and meeting challenges.

Though the scholarship made a financial difference for Carrico, he said being a Thompson Scholar was a life-changing experience.

“The money is certainly nothing to scoff at, but I truly think the program and the people running it are the reason I was able to stick with it and end up graduating,” Carrico said. “I knew they had my back from the very start. They gave me the foundation I could build off where I could thrive.”