FAQs - The Robert and Ellen Thompson Scholarships

How do I know if I'm eligible to apply for the Thompson Working Families Scholarship?

The criteria and application information are available here.

I applied for a Thompson Scholarship. When will I hear back?

The Thompson Working Families Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis. Most decisions are made in the summer so depending on when you applied, it could be several weeks until you hear back.

How will I know that I have received my Thompson Scholarship?

You will initially be notified via email to accept your Thompson Scholarship and submit your Thank You note. Each semester, the scholarship will show in myBanner under the Financial Aid tab where you view the Award Overview.

Do I have to reapply each year?

No, all Thompson scholarships are renewed automatically if the criteria are met. You do need to complete a FAFSA each year.

What are the requirements and expectations after I am selected?

The requirements are:

Be enrolled as a full-time student.
Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher (Thompson Working Families only).
Must meet university standards of academic progress (SAP).
Complete and submit a minimum of 10 hours of community service each semester.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.
Attend and participate in mandatory Thompson Scholars events.

Do I have to complete 10 hours of service per semester? How do I track my service hours?

Yes, it is required that you complete a total of 20 hours each academic year, with a minimum of 10 hours completed by the end of exam week in the fall semester. It is acceptable to complete all 20 hours in the Fall semester and to complete more hours than required.

Please visit the Service hours page to track your hours. If you have issues tracking hours or further questions, email us at [email protected].

You can schedule a consultation via Zoom with one of GVSU's Civic Engagement Associates who can help you find volunteer opportunities.

What is considered "community service?"

We have a very broad view of community service. Civic engagement can come in many forms and we encourage you to be creative. With health and safety concerns we understand that volunteering with an organization may not be an option. Examples of acceptable activities are virtual volunteering (for example, an online voter registration drive, or phone banking), helping a neighbor by raking their yard, shoveling snow or walking their dog, picking up trash in a park, writing letters to residents of a retirement home, making dog toys out of recycled materials and donating to a shelter, and many more options! When tracking hours, you do not need to list an organization if you did your service independently. For more information with a range of suggestions for virtual, remote and neighborhood-based service opportunities visit https://www.gvsu.edu/service/find-community-engagement-opportunities-201.htm

What support resources are there for me?

We are happy to help you with your questions and concerns:

Thompson Scholars Staff

Samantha Mayse | Senior Director of Thompson Scholars
(616) 331-9202 | [email protected]

Emily McKenna-Makela | Assistant Director of Thompson Scholars
(616) 331-2136 | [email protected]

Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

(616) 331-3234 | [email protected]

Civic Engagement at GVSU | Office of Student Life

Office of Student Life (KC 1110)
(616) 331-2348 | [email protected]

What can I do to reinstate my scholarship if I drop below the GPA requirement or do not complete service hours?

If you are in jeopardy of losing your scholarship, you will receive notice via email. We allow students to submit scholarship appeals if their GPA falls below the minimum 2.75 requirement and they have all service hours done. These appeals are reviewed by our Financial Aid Coordinator and final decisions are made by the Office of Financial Aid.

My scholarship has been renewed the maximum amount of times, but I still have requirements to complete in order to graduate. What are my options?

You can apply to receive additional funding for an extra year of Thompson funding for your undergraduate education. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be sent an email with the additional funding link at the end of the Winter semester.

What are matching funds and when can I expect to receive them?

Matching funds are GV-specific grants and scholarships. They may read as "Laker Lane Scholarship" or "Grand Valley Grant," for example, in a student's financial aid package. Any GV-specific awards will count toward the match, even ones received prior to being awarded a Thompson scholarship.

I read that there are graduation cords for Thompson Scholars. Where can I pick mine up?

We have an event for graduates each Fall and Winter semester. You can pick your Thompson Scholar graduation cords up at these events. We will send an RSVP form to students graduating each semester with details on time, date, and location.

If you are unable to attend these events, honor cords will be available to pick up in the TSSC (KC 1152; open Mon-Fri 9a-5p and till 8p on Tuesdays) closer to the event. For Winter 2026, they will be available in the TSSC starting April 3.