At Michigan Tech, we know that talent and drive come from every corner of Michigan—and we’re proud to support students from hardworking families who want to turn ambition into achievement. The Rollin A. Jones and James E. Lindstrom Working Families Scholarship, made possible by the Thompson Foundation, celebrates the values of dedication, leadership, and opportunity. This scholarship honors two Michigan Tech alumni whose careers helped shape their communities, and it’s designed to help the next generation of Huskies do the same.
Who Should Apply?
Students who meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply:
- Michigan resident
- Classified as a dependent student on their FAFSA
- Student Aid Index (SAI) between -1,500 and 16,000
- At least one currently working parent
- Not receiving Michigan Tech’s Tuition Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP), the State of Michigan's Tuition Incentive Program (TIP), the Kalamazoo Promise, the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver, or other full tuition scholarships.
- Students must also be either:
-
- an incoming first-year student at Michigan Tech;
- a first-year student who has completed their first semester at Michigan Tech; or
- a transfer student who has completed 4 semesters or 60 credits at another institution before their enrollment begins at Michigan Tech.
Award Value
- Up to $5,500 per year from the Thompson Foundation; Michigan Tech commits to matching up to $5,500 in university funding in the form of grants and scholarships, including programs like the Presidential Scholars Program and Michigan Tech Transfer Award.
- Number of recipients awarded for fall 2026 will be 195.
- 125 new first-year students
- 60 achievers (current first-year) students
- 10 new transfer students
- Awards are renewable; number of semesters vary based on program.
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- New first-year: 4 years (8 semesters)
- Achievers (current first-year): 3 years (6 semesters)
- New transfer: 2 years (4 semesters)
How To Apply
- Students must apply for admission to Michigan Tech by February 1.
- Complete the FAFSA application by February 14.
- Complete the Working Families Scholarship application by February 15.
- Describe your academic and career goals. Explain how receiving this scholarship will support your success at Michigan Tech.
- Describe your past and present community service involvement. In your response, please
include:
- Names of the organizations or causes you supported and your role as a volunteer.
- How your service impacted your community and what you have learned from your experience.
Renewal Criteria
Scholarship recipients must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 at the end of each semester of study, submit two thank-you letters: one during their first year and one during their final year at Michigan Tech, file a FAFSA annually, and complete and report a minimum of 20 community service hours per academic year (fall/spring semesters). Continuous, regular full-time undergraduate enrollment (12 credits or more) and adherence to the student code of community conduct must also be maintained.
History
Michigan Tech alumni Rollin Jones ‘58 and Jim Lindstrom ‘69 spent the majority of their civil engineering careers working for Robert Thompson of the Thompson-McCully Company. Together, they managed and were instrumental in acquiring many Michigan-based asphalt paving companies to grow the company’s portfolio. Mr. Thompson’s unique management style of sharing financial knowledge with key employees was a rarity for its time and proved to create a performance-based learning environment. After Thompson-McCully sold its holdings to CRH/Oldcastle Materials in 1999, Robert (Bob) and Ellen Thompson formed the Thompson Foundation, largely supporting education. As Vice Presidents for Thompson-McCully, Rollin and Jim demonstrated superior leadership and a “nose to the grindstone” work ethic, which they attribute to their educational experience at Michigan Tech. Through the years, Rollin and Jim made many trips to Houghton in search of future employees who exhibit those same qualities. Jim recalls, “As the company grew, we would go to Michigan Tech to recruit and hire for needed positions”. Bob and Ellen Thompson have a great appreciation for Tech graduates and their contributions to the company’s success. They have established the Working Families Scholarship in memory of Rollin, who sadly left us in 2018, and in honor of Jim, who represents the living legacy of this Michigan Tech scholarship.