The Thompson Scholar Experience
Thompson Scholarship Programs supports our Thompson Scholars by providing them with life-changing opportunities and support even beyond the financial element. Our dedicated advisors invest in our students’ successes and seek to provide growth opportunities. We are also proud of our commitment to service to continue Mr. and Mrs. Thompson’s legacy of helping others.
Scholarship Advisor
Every Thompson Scholar is assigned a dedicated scholarship advisor. Advisors support and guide, actively reaching out throughout the year to ensure that scholars are on track for success.
Our scholarship advisors held 3,557+ one-on-one meetings this past academic year and hosted group meetings for second- and third-year scholars.
BGSU 1910
In Fall 2024, our staff taught six Thompson sections of BGSU 1910, a one-credit hour course on Life Design and how to cultivate design thinking skills to create a meaningful and productive life while at BGSU and beyond. In the Thompson sections, the curriculum has been adapted to learn design thinking through the lens of the Thompsons’ values and service focus. Students considered the Thompsons’ legacy, connected with peers in class and through a service-learning experience, and acquired tools and skills to navigate their first year of college while deepening their understanding of their identity as Thompson Scholars.
- 143 of our 247 first-year scholars were enrolled in a Thompson BGSU 1910 section.
- Thank you to our scholars and Raegan Hall (first-year graduate assistant) who served as teaching assistants this year: Julianne Bailey, Kaitlyn Best, Emily Burns, Abby Christen, Lilly Coriell, Summer Ellis, Keilah Fish, Charlotte Forsyth, Dylan Martel, Ethan Psurny, Lili Seldon and Jakob Willer.
Service Opportunities
Community service is an integral part of the Thompson Scholar Experience. The Thompsons place a high value on having a heart of service and have been role models of ways to serve. Scholars are required to complete service each semester but often go above and beyond to serve their community. Our goal is to help students identify and pursue meaningful service opportunities that align with their values, interests and career goals, in addition to learning how their participation in service relates to current societal issues. Our hope is for Thompson Scholars to cultivate a spirit of giving back in honor of all they have received and to continue the legacy of Robert and Ellen Thompson.
2024 - 2025 Service Highlights
- 28,782+ service hours completed by Thompson Scholars during the 2024-25 academic year (average 25.2 hours per scholar)
- 6,588+ items donated from our fall and spring food drives to benefit the Falcon Food Pantry, Dean of Students’ Grab-N-Go Food Program and Brown Bag Food Project
- In February, graduate advisors Sam and Raegan traveled to Columbus with 12 scholars for our spring service trip. We partnered with Buddy Up for Life to support individuals with Down syndrome through tennis, fitness and cooking and life skills classes.
- We hosted a variety of Thompson group service opportunities: For the Public Good Service Event, Black Swamp Arts Festival, Friends of the Wood County Library, Wintergarden Park, Simpson Garden Park, MLK Day of Service and more.
Orientation and Onboarding
For the 80 new scholars who could not attend Summer Link due to Marching Band or other conflicts, our One-Day Orientation provided a shortened opportunity to attend their scholarship orientation and get connected to our program.
Seven wonderful scholars served as One-Day leaders to help support our team in welcoming the incoming first-years to the program. Thank you to Allison Beebe, Jamal Booker, Charlotte Forsyth, Nathaniel Francis, Shane Romano, Rebecca Strack and Jamari Walker!
Student Leadership Team
This year, the Thompson Student Leadership Team (SLT) worked to bring the values of Connect, Engage and Serve to life. The team created opportunities for Scholars to build relationships, develop professionally and give back to the community. Thanks to the strong leadership of the executive board, cabinet and advisors, the team’s dedication, collaboration and welcoming spirit made all the difference.
Across five committees – alumni relations, communications, connections, Scholar success and service – SLT members planned and facilitated 82 events. Events included Scholar Meet-ups, Game Nights, Self-care Nights, a degree audit session, Scholar-ween Social, Friendsgiving Holi-Slay, Thompson Lunches and more. These programs reached more than 1,450 attendees and helped foster a stronger sense of community within the scholarship program. SLT also introduced several new initiatives including a QR-based attendance system, an updated co-chair interview process and a T-shirt design competition.
A total of 44 students served on the 2024-25 SLT and contributed 1,818 hours of service. On average, each SLT member served over 41 hours, surpassing the program-wide average. SLT members also maintained a strong academic performance with an average GPA of 3.768. They won first place in BGSU’s Homecoming video competition and represented the program at events like Family Weekend and the Student Organization Showcase. The SLT team provided ample opportunities for connection with each other and other scholars.
President
Julianne Bailey, 2021 Cohort
The president serves as the primary contact and support person for the executive board and serves as the liaison between the Student Leadership Team and the Thompson Scholarship Programs staff.
Vice President
Jordan Garner, 2022 Cohort
The vice-president serves as the president’s right-hand person and stays up to date on all communication and operating procedures necessary to achieve the goals of the executive board.
Secretary
Reagan Zehnder, 2021 Cohort (Fall)
Ella Rasey, 2024 Cohort (Spring)
The Secretary maintains the organization, assimilation and dissemination of all information within the organization.
Treasurer
Hanna Purcell, 2023 Cohort
The Treasurer oversees the financial activities of the organization.
President
Abigail Eggleton, 2020 Cohort
The president serves as the primary contact and support person for the executive board and serves as the liaison between the Student Leadership Team and the Thompson Scholarship Programs staff.
Vice President
Danielle Wood, 2021 Cohort
The vice-president serves as the president’s right-hand person and stays up to date on all communication and operating procedures necessary to achieve the goals of the executive board.
Secretary
Cherylle Dave, 2021 Cohort
The Secretary maintains the organization, assimilation and dissemination of all information within the organization.
Treasurer
Julianne Bailey, 2021 Cohort
The Treasurer oversees the financial activities of the organization.
Academic Excellence Co-Chairs
- Alexis Craig-Baker, 2022 Cohort
- Mi'Kaila Henderson, 2021 Cohort
Service Initiatives Co-Chairs
- Jordan Garner, 2022 Cohort
- Ceci Michael, 2022 Cohort
Alumni Relations Co-Chair
- Julianne Wallenhorst, 2021 Cohort
Scholar Development Co-Chairs
- Tomi Starcher, A2022 Cohort
- Zach Wells, 2020 Cohort
Connections Co-Chairs
- R'ion Champion, 2022 Cohort
- Reagan Zehnder, 2021 Cohort
Social Media Ambassadors
- Sarah Grownwall, 2022 Cohort
- Alyssa Lago, 2020 Cohort
Academic Excellence Committee
- Emi Castillo, 2023 Cohort
- Isabella Garrett, T2022 Cohort
- Arianna Jeric, A2022 Cohort
- Hanna Purcell, 2023 Cohort
- Thomas Rose, 2023 Cohort
- Mason Schragal, 2023 Cohort
- Corey Snell, 2023 Cohort
- Peyton Spencer, 2023 Cohort
- Brody Stultz, 2020 Cohort
- Alex Suttles, 2023 Cohort
Scholar Development Committee
- Melina Bell, A2021
- Emily Burns, 2023 Cohort
- Elijah Chambers, 2020 Cohort
- Lilly Coriell, 2023 Cohort
- Chloe Dean, 2023 Cohort
- Torin Hinkle, 2023 Cohort
- Jackson Long, 2020 Cohort
- Jada Tucker, A2022 Cohort
Alumni Relations Committee
- Alexis Beeman, A2022 Cohort
- Liberty Cummings, 2023 Cohort
- Caitlin McComas, 2021 Cohort
- Jon Mong, 2021 Cohort
- Jasper Moore, A2022 Cohort
- John Paroda, 2023 Cohort
- Jazmyn Zurcher, A2022 Cohort
Service Initiatives Committee
- Reese Egan, 2023 Cohort
- Nate Francis, 2022 Cohort
- Naomi Hallman, 2023 Cohort
- Trenton Moore, 2021 Cohort
- Harley Partlow, A2023 Cohort
- Wynter Smith, A2023 Cohort
- Kassidy Stanford, 2021 Cohort
- Jamari Walker, 2021 Cohort
- Kofi Wiafe, 2023 Cohort
Connections Committee
- Greta Bauder, 2021 Cohort
- Katelynn Cascaden, 2023 Cohort
- Abby Christen, 2023 Cohort
- Olivia Cox, 2022 Cohort
- Sydney Dance, 2023 Cohort
- CarolAnn Durbin, 2020 Cohort
- Dominik Fartea, 2022 Cohort
- Natalie Rekart, 2023 Cohort
- Adrian Xaiyarath, 2022 Cohort
- Summer Zeleznik, 2023 Cohort
Updated: 06/30/2025 08:11AM