Ellen Thompson Named a Michiganian of the Year by Detroit News
JUNE 6, 2025
Mrs. Thompson Honored for Her Transformative Scholarship Work
Ellen Thompson has been honored as one of the 2025 Michiganians of the Year by The Detroit News for her visionary contributions to education and philanthropy. She is the driving force behind the Thompson Working Family Scholarship, a transformative initiative that has already provided college funding to 6,000 students and is projected to support 15,000 by the time the program concludes in 2033.
In addition to the scholarships, Ellen and her husband Bob Thompson have supported educational innovation across Michigan through their foundation, investing in charter schools in Detroit and enhancing technology in rural school districts. Her dedication to opening doors for working-class families reflects the very spirit of the Michiganian of the Year honor—uplifting communities through quiet, powerful action.