SVSU Thompson Scholars program creates opportunities for first-generation college students – MLive.com
KOCHVILLE TWP, MI — Nearly 360 students at Saginaw Valley State University participate in the Thompson Working Families Scholarship program, with half being first-generation college students. This makes the annual Nov. 8 national celebration of first-generation college students especially meaningful for these Thompson Scholars.
Established by the Plymouth, Michigan-based Thompson Foundation in 2011, the scholarship program was envisioned by Ellen Thompson, a former teacher, and her husband, Bob Thompson, to help high-achieving students overcome financial barriers to higher education. The program prepares students for meaningful careers and community-centered lives.
SVSU joined the program in 2016 with an initial cohort of 10 students, alongside partner schools Grand Valley State University, Michigan Technological University, and Bowling Green State University in Ohio, which is the Thompsons’ alma mater.
Unlike traditional scholarships, the Thompson program requires commitment from multiple parties. Scholars receive $11,000 annually, with the Thompson Foundation providing $5,500 that must be matched dollar-for-dollar by the university. Students cover remaining costs and must maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA, take full-time credit hours, and complete 20 hours of community service yearly.
“The Thompson Working Families Scholarship program plays a vital role in helping first-generation students and their families achieve the goal of earning a degree from SVSU,” Ken Fettig, vice president for enrollment management who oversees the program, said in a statement.
“The program provides essential resources that are proven to foster student success: financial support beyond tuition, a strong peer cohort for academic, social, and career development, and meaningful opportunities for community engagement through service.”
Lauren Behrendt, 20, a junior at SVSU and valedictorian of her Memphis High School class, exemplifies the program’s impact. As a first-generation college student, Behrendt was responsible for funding her education.
“After visiting several schools, I was definitely leaning toward Saginaw Valley because everyone I met was so friendly and the campus is beautiful – and financial support was important to my decision,” Behrendt said in a statement. “Being a Thompson Scholar, combined with receiving the SVSU Founders’ Scholarship, means my tuition is almost fully covered.”
An occupational therapy major, Behrendt will graduate in spring 2028 with combined bachelor’s and master’s degrees, needing to fund only her fifth-year master’s credits without these scholarships.
Curt Little, Thompson Foundation program manager, described the program as “more than financial aid — it’s a transformative opportunity."
“For many of our Thompson Scholars, especially those who are the first in their families to attend college, this support opens doors to education, community engagement, and a future filled with purpose,” he said in a statement.
When the Thompson Foundation sunsets in 2033, it is projected to have supported more than 13,000 Thompson Scholars across all partner institutions.
Saginaw Valley State University offers more than 90 programs of study to approximately 7,000 students on its campus in Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region. SVSU is recognized for community engagement and, according to Niche rankings, has the best dormitories of any public university in the United States.
Generative AI was used to organize information for this story, based on data provided by the Thompson Foundation and Saginaw Valley State University. It was reviewed and edited by MLive/The Saginaw News staff.
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