By JoAnn Fields
Staff Writer
San Diego, CA: On Friday, January 31, 2014 Ms. Tyra Hawthorne, founder and director of the famous Thunder Squad Drumline was greeted by family and friends in celebration of her 32nd birthday at Dave & Busters in Mission Valley. Event coordinators Alicia Cherise and Kelly Bridgeforth surprised her with the entire Thunder Squad family, her mother Phillis Forrest, sister Tiffany Forrest and her 2 nephews who flew in from Detroit.
“Tyra is the most thoughtful person who has the biggest heart. To be able to surprise her with a party and bring her family to San Diego was great! She deserved it!,” states best friend Alicia Cherise.
Tyra Hawthorne began serving the community during her time when she served in the United States Marine Corps. During her service, she was an active volunteer for the Drug Education for Youth Program at the Boys and Girls Club and provided training for the Junior Reserve Officers Training Program with various high school programs throughout the United States.
Although her service honorably ended in 2010 with the U. S. Marine Corps, she wasn’t ready to stop her service in the community. In August 2011, Ms. Hawthorne met the Executive Director of the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, through the connection from her mentor Peggy Cooper.
Tyra Hawthorne established the Thunder Squad Drumline on October 10, 2011 at the Jackie Robinson YMCA. The program is founded on academics, leadership, and dedication; all of the tools that her High School Band Director and College Drumline Director had instilled in her to ensure she gave her best to the musicianship of their music programs.
The main program guideline for the Thunder Squad is that all members maintain a 3.0 grade point average. Ms. Hawthorne assists her members in preparation for college life by building relationships with the Directors of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and initiating the audition process to obtain scholarships.
As a volunteer, the founder, and the director of Thunder Squad, Tyra Hawthorne dedicates her time to a minimum of three practices a week, performances on the weekends, and countless hours to the administrative tasks of keeping the program running. To date, Thunder Squad has performed over 50 performances in Southern California ranging from San Diego to Los Angeles, and they are not done yet. Tyra Hawthorne is committed to making this program to be more than a drumline, but a lifestyle.
“Ms. Tee is an incredibly inspirational and strong woman. She has been the type of role model that has taught me to always stand up for what I believe in, never back down from my dreams and aspirations as well as work hard for my success. She also shows that I’m able to change my community through my music and giving back,” states Jordan Humpheries, member, Thunder Squad Drumline.
“As a parent of the Thunder Squad from the first day of rehearsals to the present, I would like to say that Tyra (Ms. Tee) Hawthorne has grown to accept the whole team which she is teaching. She accepts all as a whole in mentoring, empowering, striving to achieve one’s goals, finding employment for members and giving her heart to make sure students understand what the life and the Thunder Squad Drumline is about. Tyra is all about the whole person as one. Tyra is a team player for ideas and suggestions with the children. I love the discipline from her military background which reflects in the children, that being on the team is about working together. They say, ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ I feel it takes a mentor to start with a child and then the village will come. Tyra’s that village for the whole Thunder Squad Drumline,” states parent Kelly Bridgeforth.
In support of one her members Jordan Humpheries, Tyra has launched a fundraising campaign to help Jordan realize his potential and dream to participate in the 5 week summer program at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Jordan needs $8,500 to fulfill his journey. Last month they were able to secure 4 one-way tickets from Southwest Airlines so that Orin Bridgeforth can attend the Jackson State University High School camp in Mississippi and Jordan at Berklee in Boston.
If you are interested in supporting scholarship efforts and/or the activities of the Thunder Squad Drumline, please contact Tyra Hawthorne via email at [email protected].
