Words and Images by Jenny Lynn Davis
On Friday, October 25, Carbon Hill High School and The Walker College Foundation held a reception celebrating the recipients of the William Thornton Scholarship—an enduring educational fund that has opened doors to college for over 500 Carbon Hill graduates.
Established by beloved Carbon Hill residents William and Minnie Thornton, the scholarship has offered a lasting legacy of educational opportunity for generations of local students.
When William Thornton passed away in 1960, his will included instructions to create a scholarship, initially benefitting students at St. Bernard College in Cullman. After St. Bernard’s closure, the Carbon Hill High School board successfully petitioned to redirect these funds to Walker College, now Bevill State Community College.
Since 1979, the William Thornton Scholarship has supported Carbon Hill graduates attending Bevill State’s Jasper campus, changing hundreds of lives through education.
Carbon Hill High School Guidance Counselor Leslie Burrough, who organized the event, emphasized the importance of honoring the scholarship’s legacy.
“We wanted to hold this reception because I feel some of our younger scholars may not fully grasp the significance of this scholarship and the remarkable opportunity it provides,” she shared. “We saw this as a way to bring together different generations to celebrate something truly special.”
The impact of the scholarship continues to grow. According to Foundation Executive Director Holly Trawick, each year, the Walker College Foundation awards 50 full-tuition scholarships to Bevill State students, with nine to ten recipients from Carbon Hill.
Mahaley Pugh, a current Walker College Foundation Scholar studying nursing, expressed her gratitude. “This scholarship has allowed me to pursue my dream of helping people,” she said. “It’s enabled me to avoid taking on debt while I earn my degree, and I’m so thankful for that.”
Through ongoing support from The Walker College Foundation, William and Minnie Thornton’s legacy of educational empowerment continues to inspire and equip future Carbon Hill graduates to reach their fullest potential. WL