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.
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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
Summer Link
Our Summer Link program is designed to help our incoming first-year scholars make a smooth transition to BGSU and college life. Our 2024 Summer Link was our largest one yet, with 167 of our 247 first-year scholars attending!
One-Day Orientation
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
The Thompson Scholar Student Leadership Team exists to foster inclusion and connection among Thompson Scholars. It was established to complement and enhance the work of Thompson Scholarship Programs in supporting student success.
The Thompson Scholar Student Leadership Team provides opportunities for promoting scholar success, alumni relations, connection, communication, and service in the community. Its members are responsible for promoting connection, engagement, and service among the students of Thompson Scholarship Programs through the brainstorming, planning, and organization of events.
Updated: 08/21/2025 11:20AM