Huntington Bank gift bolsters support provided to Thompson Family Scholars through the BGSU Kuhlin Career Hub

A dedicated career design coach will engage with the University's 1,000 Thompson Scholars 

Since opening in Spring 2023, the Michael and Sara Kuhlin Hub for Career Design and Connections at Bowling Green State University has redefined career-ready preparation for students, a commitment now being expanded through a generous gift from Huntington Bank. 

The Kuhlin Hub for Career Design and Connections’ first gift from an employer partner will broaden student support through additional career coaching and experiential learning opportunities and further help students build a foundation for professional success through internships that lead to career exposure and employment. The Kuhlin Hub is an integral part of the University's Life Design ecosystem.

The Huntington Bank gift is poised to create a ripple effect of public good throughout northwestern Ohio, driving economic vitality by supporting a healthy regional workforce and increasing social mobility. 

“Bowling Green State University is grateful for this gift and our longtime relationship with Huntington Bank, absolutely an anchor of our region,” said BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers.

“With this support from Huntington Bank, we will further elevate our Life Design program and empower our students to take advantage of all a comprehensive university like BGSU has to offer, directly supporting our students as they prepare for career and life. We are deeply appreciative of Huntington Bank’s confidence in our Life Design program and our students as we work together to provide opportunities for the next generation of leaders in our region and beyond.” 

BGSU is the first university in the country to build a life design program of this magnitude available to all undergraduate students. Although it is one comprehensive program, Life Design includes two distinct components — college and life design and career design and connections — that represent the evolving needs of students as they make their way through college.  

The program has drawn the attention of university administrators and educators across the country who are interested in creating similar programs at their institutions. 

In expanding its outreach, the Kuhlin Hub will add a career design coach dedicated to engaging with the University’s 1,000 Thompson Family Scholars through one-on-one coaching, workshops and career prototyping. This furthers one of the key goals of the Thompson Family Scholars program, in that this outreach will work to provide scholars with opportunities for personal and professional development in preparation for graduation and beyond. 

Along with traditional support centered around exploring career opportunities and connecting with external employer partners, Thompson Family Scholars will receive guidance on navigating job offers, understanding employer benefits and evaluating the financial implications of their career decisions.  

“Huntington Bank is honored to provide financial support for these important projects, and we’re excited to see them move forward and deliver unique opportunities for BGSU students for years to come,” said Sharon Speyer, president of Huntington’s Northwest Ohio region. 

BGSU students will have an opportunity to connect with Huntington Bank representatives through Kuhlin Hub events. 

“We acknowledge and recognize the University’s collaboration with Huntington Bank and their support of the Thompson Family Scholars recipients that will significantly enhance our students' experiences, preparing them with a solid foundation for the future,” said Pam Conlin, vice president for Advancement at BGSU and the president and CEO of the BGSU Foundation, Inc. 

The Thompson Working Families Scholarship is a need-based scholarship program focused on rewarding academic success and a commitment to service. 

The Kuhlin Hub’s unique and comprehensive approach to connecting students to its robust network of industry professionals is one of the many examples of the University’s commitment to supporting student success and outcomes and a driving factor in its reputation for excellence as the No. 1 university in Ohio - big or small, public or private - for student experience. 

BGSU is among the few universities in the country with career connectors focused solely on growing its network of corporate partners to create career opportunities for students. These career connectors focus on both student and corporate partner success, taking a concierge approach to facilitate on-campus recruiting events and connect a hiring team with top BGSU students and alumni who are ready to make an immediate and long-lasting impact as employees. 

The gift builds on a longstanding partnership between the University and Huntington Bank. The 35,000-square-foot Huntington Bank Building in the BGSU Research Enterprise Park was donated to the University in 2009.