Ellen Thompson, co-founder of the Thompson Foundation and the driving force behind the Thompson Working Families Scholarship , was named one of the 2025 Detroit News Michiganians of the Year for her philanthropic vision that has helped thousands of students achieve their educational goals.
Ellen and Bob Thompson have created the largest scholarship program at Grand Valley; nearly one in 15 undergraduate students is a recipient of a Thompson scholarship.
It was Ellen's idea to establish the Thompson Working Families Scholarship, which will assist about 15,000 students at GVSU and three other universities by 2033, when the foundation will sunset.
In the Detroit News article , Ellen said she got the idea for the scholarship when she was a teacher in Highland Park and suspected a bright first-grader's family did not have the money to send the student to college.
"For students with the intelligence they have and the hard-working drive, they should have the opportunity to have a four-year education," Thompson said.
President Philomena V. Mantella said she was thrilled to see Ellen receive recognition for her vision and hard work.
"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 said. "They are not just preparing for the future — they are actively shaping the present in real and meaningful ways."
