Innovator of the Thompson Working Families Scholarship Recognized as ‘Michiganian of the Year’

Ellen Thompson Honored as 2025 Michiganians of the Year

Ellen Thompson, co-founder of the Thompson Foundation and a significant advocate for educational equity, has been named one of the 2025 Michiganians of the Year by the Detroit News. This recognition underscores her philanthropic vision that has positively impacted the educational journeys of thousands of students across Michigan.

Together with her husband Bob Thompson, Ellen has established the largest scholarship program at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). Currently, approximately one in 15 undergraduates at the university benefits from the financial assistance provided by a Thompson scholarship, allowing many to pursue higher education that might otherwise be financially unfeasible.

One of Ellen’s landmark initiatives, the Thompson Working Families Scholarship, is designed to support the educational aspirations of students from low-to-moderate income backgrounds. With ambitious goals set for the near future, the scholarship aims to assist approximately 15,000 students at GVSU and three other universities by 2033, the year when the foundation plans to sunset. This initiative reflects Ellen’s commitment to creating lasting opportunities for families who find higher education out of reach due to economic constraints.

In an interview featured in the Detroit News, Ellen Thompson shared her motivation for establishing the scholarship, stemming from her experiences as a teacher in Highland Park. She recalled a particularly bright first-grader whose family’s financial limitations made her apprehensive about the child’s future educational prospects. Ellen articulated her belief that “students with intelligence and hard-working drive should have the opportunity to pursue a four-year education,” advocating for a system that enables accessibility regardless of socioeconomic barriers.

Philomena V. Mantella, president of GVSU, expressed her delight in Ellen’s well-deserved accolade, emphasizing the profound effects of the scholarship program. “Ellen and Bob’s enduring impact comes alive in our students who, because of their idea to create the Thompson Working Family Scholarships, are building brighter futures not only for themselves but for their families and communities,” Mantella stated. “They are not just preparing for the future — they are actively shaping the present in real and meaningful ways.”

Thompson’s visionary leadership continues to inspire change in Michigan’s educational landscape, providing vital support that fosters a sense of hope and ambition among students facing financial pressures. Her commitment exemplifies the transformative power of philanthropy in creating equitable access to higher education.