Editorial: Thompsons’ gift inspiring

Bowling Green State University helped shape the lives of graduates Bob and Ellen Thompson and now the Thompsons have created a life-changing scholarship program with BGSU that will provide nearly $250 million to thousands of students with limited means. (“Thompsons help create nearly $250M in BGSU scholarships,” Friday.)

Read more Blade editorials

The 68-year married couple who met as BGSU students increased their Thompson Working Family Scholarship program to bring the total since inception in 2014 to $121 million. The Thompson’s gift to their alma mater is the largest contribution in BGSU history and the largest donation dedicated to scholarships in the entire state of Ohio.

They’ve structured a program which requires a matching contribution from BGSU and a community service component from the student to provide access to college for 1,063 current students with an average GPA of 3.59. Since the Thompson Scholars were launched they’ve contributed 26,532 hours of public service.

“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 Rogers said.

The 2,200 Thompson Scholars who’ve received assistance so far are also grateful for the assistance. The Thompsons told Blade reporter Debbie Rogers they are “flooded with thank-you letters and cards every semester.” Most hopefully for the future, students writing those letters often tell the Thompson’s they’ve been inspired to pay forward to the next generation when they are in position to do so.

Because of the Thompsons, before the funding for the scholarship program runs out in 2035, 6,200 students who will have left the university carrying high debt from loans, will start their futures unencumbered by those costs.

The Thompsons made their fortune in a paving business. Now they are paving the way to a bright future for BGSU and for outstanding students their generous scholarships attract. When they sold the business in 1999 the Thompsons shared more than 30 percent of the $422 million purchase price with their employees. They started the Thompson Foundation with another $100 million for anti-poverty programs.

The example they’ve set for the students they’ve assisted and the others they have helped will surely create future benefits we can only imagine.

With all Ohio universities, public and private, facing the most difficult financial environment in the last 50 years, benefactors like Bob and Ellen Thompson are more important than ever, as the future gifts they inspire can provide the means to sustain excellence.