Nestled in the heart of agriculture and energy, Taft College offers programs in vocational technology education, dental hygiene, English, engineering, social and behavioral sciences, mathematics and science , commerce, health and life sciences, arts and humanities, etc. Taft College even offers distance learning allowing students to achieve their educational goals at their convenience.
We use our industry partners to bring in faculty and instructors who have first-hand experience in their profession, allowing students real-world expertise to learn and grow.
But don’t just take our word for it. Here are a few success stories from some of our outstanding alumni:
Shelby Watts says Taft College’s welding program is top-notch. She should know – she took classes at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and Cuesta College and decided Taft College’s welding program was the best fit for her professional needs.
“The Taft College welding program is a comprehensive, individual education. Students are often criticized on machines, so we become confident in hand-eye coordination and very proficient in our welds. The class is small, so we’re like a little family here,” says Watts.
Taft College leadership knows exactly what the industry is looking for because Taft is an industry-focused field. For starters, certified Taft College welders make extremely capable welder helpers. Welding work is in demand as an employee or self-employed – salaries can exceed $180,000.
While Allison Langston attended Taft College, she encountered many obstacles and was able to overcome them all. At the beginning of 2020, she became a single mother of three children and had to move in with her parents. Although she was discouraged, her children and her education supported her. She also had to change jobs due to COVID-19, which forced her to stay home with her children as schools were closed.
Langston graduated this spring semester 2022 with a GPA of 3.89 and earned degrees in business administration and criminal justice administration for transfer. She was accepted to UC Irvine and declared Criminal Law and Society as her major. She is a single mother who, according to staff at EOPS/CARE and CalWORKs, has excelled in her studies despite so many challenges.
Mariela Ruiz has degrees in Early Childhood Education and Family Studies and was Co-Chair of the Wellness Club.
“Taft College is an amazing school. As a mother of two young children, I was afraid of not being able to balance school, mother’s duties and work. I wasn’t sure I would be able to pull it off,” Ruiz said. “I attended UCSB for a year, so I expected something similar. But it was completely different. The class sizes were small compared to the auditorium-sized classes I encountered at UCSB. Taft College has so many amazing teachers who are here to help you learn and succeed in life. It was so easy to connect with your teachers and stay in communication. They really care about you!
Ruiz felt supported at Taft College, noting that “counsellors were always easy to contact, talk to and check in on how I was doing in my college course. My advisor made sure I was on the right path to graduating and made sure I would be able to transfer to CSUB for my bachelor’s degree.
Desirae Salas was an ASO officer, president of the Early Childhood Education Club and an ECEFS graduate. She was an active and involved student, and extremely passionate about early childhood care and education, as well as the campus community. She also supported the wider community and owned and operated a family daycare in Bakersfield, when she decided to return to college to earn a degree.
“When I found the right school for me, I had a few requirements to pass,” says Salas. “First, I mainly needed online classes because I have a large family, so having this accommodation was extremely important to me. . Second, I wanted a program focused on the field of education so that I could fulfill my dream of becoming a teacher.Third, I needed a program that could help me transition into academia after being out of school for so many years.Luckily, Taft College responded to ALL my needs.
“Thanks to the Early Care, Education, and Family Studies Transfer program offered at Taft College, I was able to take most of my general education courses as well as my major courses online. While completing this program, I was able to attend free, virtual or in-person tutoring in my classes to help me succeed in my studies. Not only did they offer free tutoring, but they helped me get several scholarships, so most of my books and supplies were free. On top of that, they allowed me to access a computer and hotspot from the library, which allowed me to stay on top of my studies without being discouraged by technical issues. »
Salas has built close relationships with many staff and faculty. “The staff and teachers are amazing! I never felt like just a number and was always greeted by name when I walked through the door. I am sure I will never know another school like Taft College. It is a family environment. I was accepted regardless of my age, gender, dress or title. TC is an example of how every college in California should operate.
Sheri Horn-bunk is Executive Director of Institutional Advancement and Taft College Foundation.
