Bowling Green State University receives historic student scholarship funding from The Thompson Foundation

Bowling Green State University has received additional scholarship funding from Bob and Ellen Thompson of The Thompson Foundation to expand their Thompson Working Families Scholarship program following a successful decade-long pressure testing of the program’s accountability standards. The Thompsons have contributed a total of $121 million in scholarship funding for this program, with the possibility of an additional $30 million coming in to support the scholarship funding through 2035.

According to an article on Bowling Green State University’s website, Rodney K. Rogers, president of Bowling Green State University, said of the Thompsons’ gift, “This is a generationally defining gift for thousands of students who might not otherwise be able to earn a college degree. As a public university for the public good, access to higher education is at the very core of our mission, and we are incredibly grateful for the Thompsons’ unprecedented generosity in supporting student scholarships at BGSU. The impact of this gift is truly immeasurable.”

The Thompson Working Families Scholarship Program was initially established in 2014. The Thompsons created the scholarship program specifically for students who come from working-class backgrounds to help ease the financial burden of pursuing a college degree. Each Thompson Scholar receives $11,000, which significantly decreases the out-of-pocket expense of tuition at Bowling Green State University. Uniquely, the Thompson Working Families Scholarship Program underwent “pressure testing” for the first decade of its existence, because the program includes the requirement of Thompson Scholars meeting accountability standards, as well as the university committing to meeting additional accountability standards.

Thompson Scholars must complete a community service requirement while they are benefitting from the scholarship, and they must maintain their academic progress. On the university’s end, Bowling Green State University has committed to making sure every Thompson Scholar graduates within four years, and matches the scholarship dollars each student receives. Thompson Scholars receive support from a dedicated team of Thompson Scholarship advisors, who provide wraparound services for everyone in the program.

President Rogers said of this unique arrangement, “Throughout the past 10 years, we have worked diligently with the Thompson Foundation to pressure-test and grow this first-of-its-kind public-private partnership aimed at accountability in achieving student success. This is absolutely an innovative concept of philanthropy based on outcomes, with all parties – BGSU, the individual student and the Thompson Foundation – having a shared responsibility to graduate ready for career and life, with minimal student debt.” He went on to say,  “We recognize not all universities would be willing to accept the accountability metrics our agreement with the Thompsons requires, but we absolutely believe it is our responsibility to ensure our students are successful and each and every dollar is put to good use. We are so pleased to continue this philanthropic partnership with the Thompson Foundation, and we look forward to working with others who will join us in the support of this program.”

Bob Thompson explained his and Ellen’s reasoning for extending their financial support, saying, “When we first created this scholarship program, we wanted to make sure the dollars were put to good use with accountability throughout the entire process. BGSU has proven this accountability approach works, and we are excited to publicly express our intentions to expand and extend this program into the next decade. Ellen and I are pleased to support BGSU students who have financial need and are willing to work hard at a university that has proven its ability to support them and match these scholarship dollars.”

The Thompsons have a long history with Bowling Green State University. They both received Education degrees in the 1950s and went on to become teachers. Bob was a pilot in the United States Air Force and spent time in the Korean War. When he returned, he and Ellen had children and began starting businesses together. They established The Thompson Foundation to support the employees of their businesses and to support education. 

Together, the Thompsons earned honorary degrees in 2006 and were recognized with Lifetime Achievement Awards from Bowling Green State University in 2016. The Thompsons are the namesakes of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union and the Bowen-Thompson Quadrangle.

The Thompson Working Families Scholarship Program began with a 15-student cohort when the scholarship was first established in 2014. Since then, 1,910 students have received support from the scholarship. With the program extending through 2035, a total of 6,200 are expected to receive the Thompson Working Families Scholarship throughout the program’s lifetime. 

The Thompson’s gift is historic in many ways, as it is the largest donation Bowling Green State University has ever received, as well as the largest scholarship gift in the history of the state of Ohio.

For more information about Bowling Green State University, visit the school’s website.