The Good Fortune of a College Education

MJC has a special place in my heart as it provided a great start for my education upon returning to Modesto after WWII. I graduated from Modesto High school on June 15, 1944 and didn’t leave for the Navy until the next day. I had no intention of going on to college until I was informed about the benefits that were provided by the GI bill, by Luverne Donker, MJC instructor of Agriculture. Thank goodness. For local veterans, MJC was the best show in town! Having attended a community college, a state college and a UC, and, after being employed 40 years in the educational field, I still feel attending a community college right out of high school is the best decision anyone can make. Both educationally and economically. To this day when asked who my favorite teacher was I give the name of a teacher I had at MJC. Not only did I receive a good education at MJC, I met Helen Andrews in a chemistry class whom I later married…and we’re still going strong, 65 years later!

- Ted Sypolt, Class of 1948