Founded in 2020 during a national reckoning with racial injustice, Thompson Scholars Foundation was born from the recognition that rural communities like ours need safe spaces where all children, especially children from populations who have been historically underserved and underrepresented, can achieve educational and leadership excellence.

The organization’s founder, Rhonda Phillips, recognized Dr. Aaron Thompson as the source of inspiration and model for the work of the organization. This gave rise to the Thompson Scholars name.

The organization proudly upholds and advances the life work of Thompson, who grew up in Clay County, Kentucky, where Thompson Scholars is based, and he serves as the President of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

Thompson Scholars is one of the first and few grassroots organizations in Appalachian Kentucky that serves children from birth through college.

Over time, the organization has evolved from small-scale afterschool programming to broader community impact. In recent years, the organization has acquired a new reputation as a STEM and robotics hub for other sites throughout the region. We support the local school system by providing academic support for those we serve, with outcome metrics that demonstrate reduced chronic absenteeism among participants, increased extracurricular engagement, and math and reading scores above district average.

Our base site, located within the city limits of Manchester, is a retreat-style A-frame facility that has served as the home for our core services since the organization’s inception. As we have grown, the A-frame has been renovated to create additional classrooms and meet the every-growing needs of our organization.