Leukemia survivor Karina Sones is thriving thanks to EAGLES program, Auburn Family’s generosity

Friends of Dwight and Dana Sones thought they were crazy. The couple was preparing a college send-off for their daughter Karina, now 24, more than 1,000 miles away from their home in Frederick, Md. She had just enrolled in the Education to Accomplish Growth in Life Experiences for Success (EAGLES) program at Auburn University, an on-campus residential experience that empowers students with intellectual disabilities to transition to life as an autonomous adult in independent living and employment.

They would soon witness firsthand the impact of this innovative program—and the power of the Auburn Family’s generosity that makes it possible.

Choosing Auburn

Traditionally a Penn State family—Dwight and the couple’s older son Braydin are both Penn State alumni—the Sones weren’t unfamiliar with Auburn. They had friends who were Auburn fans, and their younger son Torin ’24 was a freshman in the Harbert College of Business at the time.

“She was determined to find a program that would help her develop the skills she needed to be independent and to live on a college campus,” Dana said. “As we learned more about the EAGLES program, toured the campus and met the program leaders, we were confident Karina would thrive.”

Going to college was always going to be a different experience for Karina.

She was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in 2005 when she was just four years old, and has dealt with seven recurrences of cancer in her young life. Treatments and complications caused physical and developmental challenges, leading her to miss formative years in school.

But Karina was determined. She graduated from high school in May 2020 and completed a two-year hospitality management certificate program at Frederick Community College in Maryland before setting her sights on the Plains.

Helping EAGLES Soar

In the seven years since it was established, the EAGLES Program has become one of Auburn’s most beloved and recognized endeavors. Significantly funded through philanthropic support, the program has won the hearts of many.

“Philanthropy has been the cornerstone of EAGLES’ success, and it touches every aspect of what we do,” said Betty Patten, the Jay and Susie Gogue Endowed Director of the EAGLES program. “From scholarship support of our students promoting access, to funding the endowed director position—the first of its kind at Auburn—to supporting graduate assistants and funding engagement activities for our students, donors help make our work possible.”

The program’s mission to empower students with intellectual disabilities, coupled with the team’s holistic focus on each student’s individualized needs—whether academic, social, medical or emotional—creates an exceptional student experience for the EAGLES students and their families.

“They look at every individual, family dynamics, distance of parents, the abilities, the challenges that the student may have,” Dana said. For example, to help address Karina’s issues with regulating her body temperature, program leaders suggested her parents purchase a scooter to help her navigate campus and the Alabama heat. They also worked with her dorm to secure a parking spot near the building entrance and found solutions to store the battery and cords when they weren’t in use.

“EAGLES is an incredibly well-organized, well-run group of people who are passionate about students with disabilities and getting them included in every aspect of college living, just to launch them into community living,” Dana said. “They really give students all the tools, training, guidance, encouragement and opportunities they need to succeed.”

Karina chose to focus her studies on hospitality. She interned with the Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center and was a paid employee with the on-campus dining facility The Edge, along with job-based training with the Be Well Hut, a campus peer education program.

“I love working with people, and I love guest experience,” Karina said. “Every guest has a story, and my passion is to greet every guest and maybe help turn their day around to make it a good day.” She completed the two-year track in May 2024 and began her post-program life working full-time at the Chick-fil-A restaurant in downtown Auburn—a place she now calls home.

“I love it here,” Karina said on her decision to stay in Auburn. “All of my friends are here, and I just call this place home. Everyone is welcoming and caring.”

Watching their daughter thrive, the Sones say they’re excited to see her continue to grow in her independence in her life after graduation.

“Karina has had such extremes in her life—extreme illness and extreme challenges, but extreme success too,” Dana said.

“In life, there are so many rewards with the risks taken, and as a parent, you weigh those risks with the rewards. Choosing this program was a great leap with tremendous reward.” “As parents, it’s incredible to see your children step into life and thrive,” Dwight said. “The EAGLES program made that possible for Karina.”

The Chick-fil-A connection

After seeing Karina’s experience as a student, Dwight and Dana wanted to find a way to help the program grow.

The couple own and operate Chick-fil-A Frederick North, a venture they pursued after Dwight retired from his 26-year career in the U.S. Air Force. They’ve always valued giving back to their community, and Chick-fil-A’s focus on helping people was one of the reasons they wanted to be part of the company.

When it was nomination time for the 2025 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards grant program, they knew the EAGLES program was a great fit.

Created in 2015 to honor the legacy of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy, the True Inspiration Awards celebrate and support programs, like EAGLES, that make an impact on their communities.

“This was a perfect time to nominate EAGLES,” Dwight said. “We got a chance to watch firsthand what this program did for young folks who otherwise would have not had an opportunity to go to college and experience the growth and independence that comes with it.”

The couple connected with Bob McFadden, the local owner-operator of the Chick-fil-A restaurant on Magnolia Avenue, to partner on the nomination. McFadden is a community partner with the program, working with EAGLES students in his store to develop their job skills.

Virtual votes from the Auburn Family through the Chick-fil-A app played a significant role in the awards process.

“People had the chance to read about and select any of the incredible organizations that were nominated,” said Dwight. “I’m incredibly thankful for the people who read about the EAGLES Program and supported it with their vote.”

The EAGLES program was recognized as one of 56 recipients out of 2,600 applications for the prestigious grant and was ultimately awarded $75,000 from Chick-fil-A Inc. Betty Patten, the Jay and Susie Gogue Endowed Director of the EAGLES program, said the funds will be used to help meet students’ social-emotional learning needs and offset costs for graduate student assistants.

“We are grateful to have been selected by Chick-fil-A as a regional winner of their True Inspiration Awards program,” she said. “It’s so heartwarming to see such a community-oriented organization support our program and our students, which demonstrates an understanding of the tremendous value our students add to the greater Auburn community.”