Joe Thornton, of Saginaw, developed a keen interest in economics in high school and brought it with him to Delta College, where his passion grew. His goal is to complete his bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan, get a master’s degree and work at the Federal Reserve.

“I knew I wanted to be an economist,” said Thornton. “At Delta, I was able to take economics classes and create the Economics Club. That gave students the opportunity to have intellectual discussions and complete community service projects. I was so overcome with emotion (after being accepted to Michigan) to know that I was on the path that I had started to imagine at Delta.”

Started with a Scholarship

Thornton knew Delta College was the right fit due to location, low tuition cost and the community atmosphere. He enrolled in the Associate of General Studies program, where his professors made him aware of various scholarship opportunities, and he eventually landed a Jenkins Usoni Grant Scholarship.

“To receive that scholarship was such an honor, because it meant that someone believes in your education and that you are destined for success,” said Thornton. “It just goes such a long way.”

With scholarship in hand, Thornton made the most of his time at Delta College. In addition to the Economics Club, Thornton was involved in six other clubs. One was the Delta Collegiate, the student newspaper, where he was part of the team that won an Apple Award for the top collegiate TV newscast in the nation.

“Working for the Collegiate was a great experience,” said Thornton, who started as a sports writer and moved on to become the editor-in-chief. “To earn the award was a surreal experience that I will never forget.”

Looking Ahead

Thornton said he will always cherish his time at Delta as he continues his education in Ann Arbor and pursues his dream job at the Federal Reserve.

“Having a scholarship ensured that I could graduate from Delta with no debt and I am forever grateful for that opportunity,” Thornton said. “Delta has shown me that there are no limits to what I can achieve.”