Scholar programs celebrate graduates, milestones

April 22, 2025 (Volume 48, Number 16)

large group of students in blue tshirts stand with president Mantella in front center in front of screens that read Thompson Scholars Year-end celebration

Robyn Settle at podium greeting President Mantella as she walks up to speak next

Battle Creek Pipeline Scholars are pictured in a photo booth photo with two staff members

student at podium with scholar stole over his shirt and vest

President Philomena V. Mantella stands with some of the Thompson Scholars who will graduate in April.

Photo Credit: Mark Andrus

The achievements of students who participate in the Thompson Scholars and Battle Creek Pipeline programs were celebrated at two separate events in mid-April.

Thompson Scholars
Thompson Scholars, university leaders and members of the Thompson Foundation celebrated a milestone year for Grand Valley's largest scholarship program April 16 in the Kirkhof Center.

Speakers during the event emphasized that the program does more than offer students financial assistance.

Robyn Settle, who will graduate in April with a bachelor's degree in women, gender, and sexuality studies, and minors in nonprofit administration and African American studies, said while her college journey has been filled with ups and downs, being a Thompson Scholar offered constant support.

"It's not only financial support, it's the opportunity for growth and the space I have had to explore new opportunities," she said.

Bob and Ellen Thompson began their philanthropy with Grand Valley in 2008 by supporting 15 students. Their investment has since grown to a program that supports more than 1,000 students; one out of every 15 GVSU students receives support from the foundation as a Thompson Scholar.

The Bob and Ellen Thompson Student Success Center opened this year in the Kirkhof Center, a central place for scholars to meet with success coaches or join study groups.

Settle said she found a path after graduation because of the support she received from the program's success coaches. "The Success Center is a place of connection. I would like to pursue that type of career because I know how those connections can change someone," she said.

President Philomena V. Mantella reminded students to ask for support when needed. "Your journey here is not represented by a straight line. There always comes a moment when we need support," she said. "The brilliance of Bob and Ellen Thompson and the foundation was to imagine this not as only a scholarship program, but a program that will wrap its arms around you. It's your job to grab on to that opportunity for support."

Students participated in an exercise, writing inspirational headlines for their future selves.

Battle Creek Pipeline Scholars
Friends, family and supporters of the Battle Creek Pipeline Scholars program celebrated eight graduating seniors April 12 in the Kirkhof Center.

Estefany Paniagua-Pardo, assistant director for the Battle Creek Scholarship Program, called the students "pioneers and leaders who helped shape the program."

"They’ve faced and overcome numerous challenges, making monumental sacrifices along the way, and their accomplishments are a testament to their resilience, strength and determination,” Paniagua-Pardo said.

The scholars program was created from the efforts of a five-year partnership among Grand Valley, Battle Creek Public Schools and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, providing full scholarships to Battle Creek Central High School graduates and now supporting 60 students for this academic year.

April Duran was one of the seniors honored that night. Duran will graduate in April with a bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences and has plans to pursue a physician assistant program.

“Despite all the struggles I may have been dealing with at home or in class, I was able to achieve my dream, and the dreams of my parents, by graduating from college,” said Duran. “I would not have been able to make it there without the support of this foundation and those fellow Latina women who have walked in my steps, like Estefany or Thalía Guerra-Flores with Laker Familia.”

Darryl Gee, who will earn a bachelor's degree in computer science, discussed the support system that the pipeline built for him and how he gave back to it when he could.

“The efforts of people like Estefany and Charlotte Balkus, who put together classes and events just for us, like the peer mentoring program, gave me the chance to support these incoming students, where I once was,” said Gee. “I built life skills that I would not have gained as a first-generation college student unless I was a part of Battle Creek Scholars.”

The pipeline continues to welcome Battle Creek Public Schools students to GVSU through the Bearcat Advantage program.

— Thomas Garrett earned a bachelor's degree in writing from GVSU in April.