Whether it's financial aid, scholarships or gifts through the foundation, our mission at West Hills College is to inspire and guide students to reach their goals and achieve their dreams.
We came to Coalinga and West Hills College in 1968.I had just completed my master’s degree at Fresno State and my wife had been teaching at Madera High School for two years. My goal was to teach in a community college, and we were ready to start a family. West Hills College gave us the opportunity to do both.
Many avenues opened up for both of us. I was able to develop the whole geography curriculum. Later I was encouraged to take a sabbatical to complete a doctorate degree. Before that, we took our family to the United Kingdom for a year in the Fulbright Teacher exchange program. After our sons Colin and Aaron were born, my wife was able to complete her master’s degree and begin teaching full time at the college. Meanwhile, we were active in the community. Mary was involved with the American Association of University Women and I served for fifteen years on the Coalinga Planning Commission.
The college was the center of our intellectual life as well as our social life. Both our sons graduated from West Hills where they were active in student government and played intercollegiate sports. Over the years we witnessed countless students improve their lives at West Hills College. They were often the first in their family to attend college and graduate. Each year on graduation night we were thrilled and happy to meet proud parents with big tears in their eyes as they watched their son or daughter walk up to accept their diploma, because we knew that education expands and empowers the human mind and contributes to social mobility and equality.
We know what a difference education has made in our own lives and in the lives of our children. That is why we firmly believe in the mission and goals of West Hills College. And that is why we financially support scholarships.
Sincerely,
Donald and Mary Forth
READY TO HELP? MAKE A DONATION TO OUR FOUNDATION YOURSELF!
READ ABOUT THE IMPACT THIS SCHOLARSHIP HAS HAD ON ONE OF THE STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED IT