Bowling Green State University President Rodney Rogers announced the expansion of a scholarship program with the largest donation in the university’s and Ohio’s history.
Bob and Ellen Thompson founded the Thompson Foundation in 2014, and they intend to donate BGSU a total of $121 million over the course of the Thompson Working Families Scholarship. According to a news statement, the grant includes the prospect of an extra $30 million to extend the scholarship beyond 2035.
“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,” Bob Thompson stated in a press release. “BGSU has demonstrated that this accountability model works, and we are thrilled to publicly announce our plans to grow and extend this program over the next decade. Ellen and I are delighted to assist BGSU students who are in financial need and willing to work hard at a university that has demonstrated its ability to help them and match these scholarship money.”
The Thompson Working Families Scholarship, together with matching university funds and additional donor gifts, is intended to assist high-achieving students in overcoming financial hurdles to higher education. Since its creation, 2,200 scholarship recipients, known as Thompson Scholars, have earned $11,000 every academic year to cover tuition; candidates must meet specific standards, such as community service hours and sustaining academic progress.
According to the press release, the average Thompson Scholar GPA was 3.59 during the 2022-23 school year. The 1,063 students currently participating in the program have accumulated 26,532 community service hours.
Julianne Bailey, a rising senior and Thompson Scholar, believes the scholarship’s significance is incomparable. “Honestly, it’s one of the biggest achievements of my life to be able to graduate in general, but also with minimal loans,” Bailey said in an interview. “There’s no words I can say for what it means to me.”
By 2035, the Thompson scholarship will have generated over a quarter of a billion dollars in scholarships, according to BGSU. It will also serve as one of the nation’s largest non-endowed scholarship programs. Its refurbishment will benefit an estimated 4,000 extra pupils.
“The impact of this gift is immeasurable, and we are incredibly grateful for the Thompsons’ continued confidence in BGSU and our students,” BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers stated in a press statement. “Over the last ten years, we have worked tirelessly with the Thompson Foundation to pressure-test and grow this first-of-its-kind public-private partnership focused on accountability in achieving student success.” This is a truly new concept of outcome-based giving, with all parties involved – BGSU, the particular student, and the Thompson Foundation – sharing responsibility for success.”
