My name is Madyson Gabriele and I recently graduated in May of 2020 with a degree in inclusive early childhood. I wanted to earn a college degree so I could become an intervention specialist to help students who have special needs. I selected this major because it has always been a passion of mine. I started helping in this field during my senior year in high school and fell in love with it!

Without the Thompson Working Families Scholarship, I would have had to take out multiple loans to attend BGSU. This could have set me back further after I graduated financially. By being able to get ahead, I was able to obtain my reading endorsement and put a down payment on a house! Without the Thompson Scholarship for Working Families, I would have an unwanted stress of student debt.

I cannot thank the Thompsons enough for the Thompson Family Scholar program. Being a part of it is something I will treasure for the rest of my life. It allowed me to attend BGSU. I really appreciated all the continued support and encouragement throughout the years. This scholarship meant so much to me and I can’t thank the program enough for its generosity and support.

As a Thompson scholarship recipient, I was involved in the Early Childhood Organization, Council for Exceptional Children, Kappa Delta Pi, and Best Buddies. I was also the vice president of Love Your Melon my last year at BG. I was honored to fill that position. Through LYM, I had the opportunity to pass out LYM beanies to children battling cancer. It was an experience I will never forget. As a Thompson Family Scholar, I learned how valuable volunteering is in your community. I enjoyed volunteering at the Special Olympics, St. Baldrick’s, Night to Shine, Lake Cable Elementary, Relay for Life, and the Women’s Domestic Violence Shelter.

I continue to pay it forward by collecting donations to take to my local Women’s Domestic Violence Shelter. I have also been providing free tutoring for students that are struggling due to the pandemic with their academics.