Inspired by her own UMass Amherst experience, an alumna supports future generations of students.

For Eva Thomson ’78, ’80 MBA, UMass Amherst was a transformative experience that gave her the tools and knowledge she needed to build a meaningful life. She is now dedicated to paying it forward to future generations.

“I give back to the university for a simple reason: the experiences and education I received profoundly changed my life,” says Thomson, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology followed by an MBA, both at UMass Amherst. “Education changes people’s lives, opens their minds, and gives opportunities they never would have otherwise.”

Thomson, who serves on the Commonwealth Honors College Advisory Board, made a gift in her estate plan to endow the Eva Thomson Scholarship. She also gives back through her current-use scholarship, the Eva Thomson Commonwealth Honors College Community Scholarship. Both scholarships provide support for first-generation students or those who had to delay their education, those who serve as primary caregiver for their family, or those who come from a household that is supported by a sole caregiver. This was important to Thomson, who was a nontraditional student herself.

“I remember the pressures of cobbling together the financing of my education entirely on my own through meager savings, work study, waitressing, loans, and Pell grants while meeting the demands of a rigorous academic schedule,” she says. “I hope my scholarships can ease the way for individuals who don’t have support from family.”

Edna Bonsu ’28 is one of the students to benefit from Thomson’s generosity. She says that she is deeply grateful for Thomsons’ support through the Commonwealth Honors College Scholarship.

“As the child of immigrants, the second of four children, and the first woman in both sides of the family to attend college, I take great pride in my identities. Though my identities and experiences have brought me to this very moment, there is no denying that higher education is fraught with financial obstacles,” says Bonsu, who is studying nursing with a minor in sociology. “This award was not only a financial blessing but also a great investment in my education made by a stranger who believed in my potential.”
 

A rewarding career inspires generosity

After graduating from UMass, Thomson worked for several major companies before realizing her dream of owning her own firm. In 2000, she founded Thomson Financial, where she provided financial planning and investment services to clients in the Pioneer Valley.

“It was well received. Our clients appreciated working with a woman-owned business,” she says. “It was important work that was both nourishing and rewarding.”

Thomson’s professional expertise played a role in her own philanthropic planning.

“As a financial planner, I had the privilege of working with individuals to shape their estate plans. Over the years I participated in many discussions and as to how individuals wanted to use their assets in life and in death,” Thomson says. “From those discussions I decided to leave an endowment in perpetuity to help students for decades to come.”

Thomson, who retired in 2018, encourages others to consider leaving a bequest in their estate plans to make an even greater impact.

“Giving now, I can meet the students and hear about their dreams and aspirations. Giving through an endowment, which is activated after my death, feels like I can touch the future. I hope that recipients of my scholarships will know someone believes in them and is cheering them on from afar.”

Eva Thomson ’78, ’80 MBA

Learn about ways to make an impact through a planned gift or contact Joseph Jayne ’21 MPP, senior director of gift planning, for more information at jjayne@uma-foundation.org.