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 Universi

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