Former Governor Tommy Thompson is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the 2015 Colors of Education scholarship fundraising event to be held on Monday, October 5, at the Janesville Conference Center. The event is being sponsored by the Janesville Multicultural Teacher Opportunities Scholarship Fund (JMTOS). Thompson will speak on the importance of diversity in education.
Tommy Thompson was elected to the Wisconsin governorship four times, serving from 1986 to 2001. He is the state’s longest serving governor by seven years. Thompson’s tenure as governor was marked by a wide variety of initiatives including SeniorCare, BadgerCare, welfare reform, increased transportation funding, and stem cell research at UW-Madison, among others. In 2001, towards the end of his fourth term, Thompson was appointed by former President George W. Bush to become the Secretary of Health and Human Services. He served in that role during 9/11 and its aftermath, playing a key role in getting federal medical resources to New York.
After leaving government service, Thompson pursued a successful business career but continued to maintain his strong connection with the people of the state. He and his wife, Sue Ann, a former public school teacher, still live in Wisconsin where they are now enjoying more time with their children and grandchildren.
Thompson was invited to speak at the Colors of Education event by former State Senator Tim Cullen, the founder of JMTOS and a former Janesville school board commissioner. Thompson and Cullen have a long history as political rivals and allies. In 1987, Cullen, a Democrat, was selected by Thompson, a Republican, to lead the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services. Cullen is now at work on a book about his experiences in state politics and Thompson has been a key resource.
Founded in 2007, JMTOS provides up to five years of scholarship support for Janesville students of color who commit to pursuing a career as a teacher in the Janesville public schools. This “grow our own” program aims to bridge the gap between the percentage of students and teachers of color in Janesville schools. The current students, and the graduates of the program now employed by the School District of Janesville, also will speak at the Colors of Education event.
The five graduates are: Nicki Washington, Harrison Elementary School; Jared Fox, Parker High School; Daniel Jackson, Marshall Middle School; Jesse Ramirez, Franklin Middle School; Chastity Harden, Janesville Detention Center.
Tickets to the 2015 Colors of Education are $75. They may be purchased by contacting the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, (608) 758-0883, or emailing lannie@cfsw.org. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with at social hour. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. Governor Thompson and the students will speak at 7:30 p.m.
The Janesville Multicultural Teacher Opportunities Scholarship Fund is a component of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin. For more information about the Foundation visit www.cfsw.org or call Jane Maldonis at 608-758-0883.
