"One single act of kindness can impact a generation."     “My desire to give back really blossomed thanks to the Thompsons.”     "This program changed my life - it's the reason I'm here at BGSU"    "The Thompsons helped me recognize the value of uplifting your peers and bettering your community."     "I will leave BGSU with a heart for service and a continuous desire to offer my time and talents to help others.”     "One single act of kindness can impact a generation."     “My desire to give back really blossomed thanks to the Thompsons.”     "This program changed my life - it's the reason I'm here at BGSU"    "The Thompsons helped me recognize the value of uplifting your peers and bettering your community."     "I will leave BGSU with a heart for service and a continuous desire to offer my time and talents to help others.”     "One single act of kindness can impact a generation."     “My desire to give back really blossomed thanks to the Thompsons.”     "This program changed my life - it's the reason I'm here at BGSU"    "The Thompsons helped me recognize the value of uplifting your peers and bettering your community."     "I will leave BGSU with a heart for service and a continuous desire to offer my time and talents to help others.”     "One single act of kindness can impact a generation."     “My desire to give back really blossomed thanks to the Thompsons.”     "This program changed my life - it's the reason I'm here at BGSU"    "The Thompsons helped me recognize the value of uplifting your peers and bettering your community."     "I will leave BGSU with a heart for service and a continuous desire to offer my time and talents to help others.”     "One single act of kindness can impact a generation."     “My desire to give back really blossomed thanks to the Thompsons.”     "This program changed my life - it's the reason I'm here at BGSU"    "The Thompsons helped me recognize the value of uplifting your peers and bettering your community."     "I will leave BGSU with a heart for service and a continuous desire to offer my time and talents to help others.”     

A historic partnership
for student success 

"I wouldn't be where I am today without the Thompsons."         "I was able to stay enrolled and get my degree."         "This scholarship allowed me to dream bigger dreams."        "I am thankful for the doors that this scholarship has opened for me."       "I hope to pay it forward and give back to my community in the future."       "I wouldn't be where I am today without the Thompsons."         "I was able to stay enrolled and get my degree."         "This scholarship allowed me to dream bigger dreams."        "I am thankful for the doors that this scholarship has opened for me."       "I hope to pay it forward and give back to my community in the future."       "I wouldn't be where I am today without the Thompsons."         "I was able to stay enrolled and get my degree."         "This scholarship allowed me to dream bigger dreams."        "I am thankful for the doors that this scholarship has opened for me."       "I hope to pay it forward and give back to my community in the future."       "I wouldn't be where I am today without the Thompsons."         "I was able to stay enrolled and get my degree."         "This scholarship allowed me to dream bigger dreams."        "I am thankful for the doors that this scholarship has opened for me."       "I hope to pay it forward and give back to my community in the future."       "I wouldn't be where I am today without the Thompsons."         "I was able to stay enrolled and get my degree."         "This scholarship allowed me to dream bigger dreams."        "I am thankful for the doors that this scholarship has opened for me."       "I hope to pay it forward and give back to my community in the future."       "I wouldn't be where I am today without the Thompsons."         "I was able to stay enrolled and get my degree."         "This scholarship allowed me to dream bigger dreams."        "I am thankful for the doors that this scholarship has opened for me."       "I hope to pay it forward and give back to my community in the future."       "I wouldn't be where I am today without the Thompsons."         "I was able to stay enrolled and get my degree."         "This scholarship allowed me to dream bigger dreams."        "I am thankful for the doors that this scholarship has opened for me."       "I hope to pay it forward and give back to my community in the future."       

Bowling Green State University, Thompson Foundation announce nearly $250M for student scholarships

In 2014, Bowling Green State University alumni Robert Thompson ’55, ’06 (Hon.) and Ellen (Bowen) Thompson ’54, ’06 (Hon.) created the Thompson Working Families Scholarship program to support students from working families overcome financial barriers to higher education.

The Thompsons spent the next decade expanding and pressure-testing this innovative public-private philanthropic partnership with BGSU that ensures all parties are invested in student success.

When combined with their past scholarship support, Bob and Ellen Thompson have shared their intent to increase their contribution to scholarships at BGSU to total $121 million, with the possibility of an additional $30 million to extend the program past 2035. If realized, the Thompsons will have contributed $150 million to student scholarships at BGSU. From the program’s inception to expected completion in 2035, it will be responsible for creating nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in scholarships, when combined with the University's dollar-for-dollar match.

This contribution will be the largest in the University’s history, the largest single gift designated to student scholarships in the state of Ohio’s history and one of the largest non-endowed scholarship programs of its kind in the nation.

Read more about this historic commitment to student success

Scholars at a Glance

scholars-icon

2,242

Thompson Scholars to date

retention-rate

6,200

Thompson Scholars will be supported

service-hours

89,331

Thompson Scholars cumulative service hours

Create good with us

BGSU is committed to raising matching funds for this program to make higher education accessible to as many students as possible. We are seeking individuals and foundations who wish to join the Thompsons in this bold, innovative philanthropic approach to change lives for the future.

We invite you to be part of this extraordinary partnership by making a gift to the Thompson Working Families Scholarship program. With your help, we can create endless public good through the thousands of additional students who will graduate from BGSU thanks to this scholarship and go on to lead meaningful and productive lives. We can’t wait to see what they do with their BGSU degree. Will you help them take their first step?

Make A Gift

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Updated: 07/11/2024 02:17PM