A Dream Fulfilled

Lifetime Mid-Del residents Roy and Darlene Thornton wanted to give back to the community by helping local students attend college. Together with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, they established the Roy Edward Thornton and Darlene Young Thornton Scholarship that supports Mid-Del Schools students committed to community service.

“If these were our children, what can we do,” asked Roy Thornton. “Well, we can do a lot. We are not rich or anything like that, but we can get things done.”

The Thorntons didn’t have an extraordinary amount of money to give, but they knew the size of their donation didn’t matter. They could still make a difference. The scholarship fund the Thorntons started in 2013 has grown from a $1,000 award supporting two recipients each year to a $2,100 award benefitting seven recipients each year.

Del City High School graduate Kya McFadden is a 2019 recipient of the Thornton Scholarship. An active student always involved in community service, Kya and her mother met with her guidance counselor, and they determined the Thornton Scholarship was the perfect solution to helping her fulfill her dreams. Kya now studies education at Langston University and hopes to become a teacher and give back to others.

A recipient of the Roy Edward and Darlene Young Thornton scholarship, Kya McFadden is pursuing her dream of education.

When I had the opportunity to meet with the Thorntons and members from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, I told them thank you for all they’re doing for students like myself and thank you for the opportunities they’re providing. If it had not been for them, I don’t know if I would be where I am right now.

A recipient of the Roy Edward and Darlene Young Thornton (above) scholarship, Kya McFadden (inset) is pursuing her dream of education.