BGSU alumnus, wife make generous $2M donation to help students build their American dream

William '81, '83 and Mary Shelt felt compelled to give back to the University that provided the foundation for their success

Through hard work, a commitment to performance excellence and lifelong learning, Bowling Green State University alumnus William Shelt '81, '83, and his wife, Mary, achieved the American dream and want to help others do the same.

The Shelts — crediting BGSU with helping them reach profound professional success — generously contributed $2 million to support students in the Schmidthorst College of Business and School of Aviation, which represent the fields of study for which they have been passionate during a 40-year career in the aerospace and defense industry.

Their gift will support two cohorts totaling 55 Thompson Achiever Scholars pursuing degrees in business and establish the University’s largest aviation scholarship to date.

“The analytical tools and management processes I learned at Bowling Green helped me take responsibility for winning large contracts in a technically specialized and highly competitive industry. Later in my career, those skills were critical in starting a small business and building it into an industry leader,” said William Shelt, who leveraged his BGSU education to co-found an aviation services company in 2003 that has grown to 7,000 employees worldwide and will reach $1 billion in revenue in 2025. “Through our gift, we want to ensure more students have access to those opportunities and the tools to create their own success.”

The Shelts’ faith was also a strong motivator in their decision.

"We've worked and prayed very hard all of our lives and are incredibly blessed," Mary Shelt said. "Those factors helped us to get to this point, and it felt right to pay it forward to support students."

A force multiplier

The Shelts’ $1 million gift for Thompson Achievers, as with all gifts designated for Thompson Achievers, matches the contribution from the Thompson Foundation dollar-for-dollar, increasing its impact twofold.

The recent transformational gift announcement of additional funding from alumni Robert ’55, ’06 (Hon.) and Ellen ’54, ’06 (Hon.) Thompson for the Thompson Working Families Scholarship program, which will total $121 million, requires a match from the University and other donor contributions, resulting in a philanthropic impact of the non-endowed scholarship that will amount to nearly $250 million.

More than 6,200 students will be supported through the Thompson Scholarship program through 2035.

Thompson Achievers are BGSU students who have demonstrated academic success and financial need during their first year and are awarded a scholarship in their second year. The scholarship is renewable for up to four additional semesters based on continued academic success.

Largest aviation scholarship

Inspired by the selfless dedication of retired Army lieutenant general and fellow alumnus, Lt. Gen. Douglas M. Gabram, the Shelts designated $1 million to establish a scholarship in his name for students in the School of Aviation.

“Lt. Gen. Gabram has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to collaborative, high-performance teamwork throughout his military career,” William Shelt said, noting that the two met through his aviation services company, M1 Support Services. “He’s absolutely a patriot and hero. We wanted to acknowledge and honor his sacrifice of serving our country by establishing this scholarship in his name.”

BGSU has one of the largest aviation programs in Ohio and the U.S. and is one of the few universities in the country with an airport on its campus. Through the Lt. Gen. Douglas M. Gabram Aviation Scholarship, William Shelt wants to reinforce the value of higher education in aviation.

Strong industry demand for qualified pilots is forecasted to continue, and the BGSU School of Aviation has expanded to keep pace. However, student pilots who complete their degree have additional advantages. “Your ability to fly is predicated on health and abilities that may not be sustained for your entire career, and if you don’t finish your degree, it can limit the opportunities and possibilities you have in aviation or other career fields,” he said.

Gabram, a decorated Army veteran, graduated from BGSU in 1984 as a distinguished military graduate. He is a master aviator, qualified in the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, and has had multiple combat deployments, including two to Afghanistan, four to Iraq and one to Bosnia.

Gabram's decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, seven Bronze Stars, Air Medal with Valor and numerous other awards and decorations. He was inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame in May 2025.

A generation of givers

William and Mary Shelt began their journeys at BGSU after graduating from Rossford High School, near Toledo. William Shelt earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing and sales in 1981 and followed the advice of a professor to continue his education, earning an MBA specializing in international business in 1983.

Mary Shelt attended the University from 1977 to 1981, recalling a profound interaction with a statistics professor, who instilled in her a lifelong pursuit of knowledge. She earned a bachelor's and master’s degree in education from the University of Texas at Dallas and Southern Methodist University and became an educator and leader at one of the top school districts in Texas.

In 2003, William Shelt left his position as senior vice president at Computer Sciences Corporation to co-found M1 Support Services. He and his business partner grew the company from a two-person endeavor to an industry leader in the government services space, providing aircraft maintenance, modification, flight operations, training, logistics support and supply chain management services for critical military aircraft, pilot training and aviation programs.

The Shelts of McKinney, Texas, established the One Solitary Life Foundation, Inc. to support military veterans, medical research, religious organizations and educational institutions. Their philanthropic intent, derived from a poem of the same name, is that despite the humblest of beginnings, even the greatest powers on Earth have not affected mankind as much as that one solitary life.

They hope their generosity extends beyond helping students achieve their academic and professional goals, setting a venerable example of charity and inspiring Thompson Achievers and aviation students to create a continuous cycle of giving for generations to come.

“We are testing the scholarship programs and are excited to see progress and results. We hope the students who receive these scholarships can keep the motivation and desire to want to give to others,” Mary Shelt said. “One person can make a big difference. We have seen firsthand how small things can develop into great successes. We also hope other alumni can appreciate how they can make a difference to assist, beginning with contributions to support one or two Thompson Scholars.”

Thompson Scholarship success

The Thompson Working Families Scholarship program, launched in 2014, is an innovative public-private partnership that assists students from working families in overcoming financial barriers to higher education.

The four-year graduation rate among Thompson Scholars has averaged 89% during the past decade, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in helping students reach their educational goals.

The Thompson’s contribution, announced in 2024, to expand the scholarship program is the largest in the University’s history, the largest single gift designated to student scholarships in the state of Ohio’s history, and their contribution total has established one of the largest non-endowed scholarship programs of its kind in the nation.

Create good with us

In collaboration with the Thompson Foundation, BGSU has launched a significant fundraising initiative to secure $3.3 million in matching contributions annually through fall 2031, specifically for Thompson Achiever Scholars.

This effort will ensure that each year, a new cohort of 200 Thompson Achiever Scholars will receive $5,500 for three years from University resources and private donations, matching the same amount from the Thompson contribution. Every gift will assist these high-achieving BGSU students in overcoming financial barriers and earning college degrees.

To learn more about how to support the Thompson Working Families Scholarship program, visit BGSU.edu/thompson-family-scholars/impact.html