The Taft College Foundation

09/04/2026

Clubs at Taft College aren't just extracurriculars — they're where students find their people, build leadership skills, and grow into who they're becoming. The Taft College Foundation is proud to help make that possible. 🐾

Find out more about our student-lead clubs at https://www.taftcollege.edu/o/scl/page/student-clubs-and-organizations

09/04/2026

This is what we do! Each year at the Taft College Cougar Cookout, our generous partners sponsor Veterans to attend an Honor Flight... a once-in-a-lifetime unique experience we get to gift to those who gave us the gift of freedom.

Check out the full article: https://www.bakersfield.com/news/honor-flight-kern-county-breakfast-has-become-a-monthly-cant-miss-for-many/article_b5d6de8a-a2d0-44c0-b296-f9fbedea1a6b.html

09/04/2026

Supporting the Taft College Foundation means supporting Taft College athletes. We have programs that specifically help our student athletes succeed so they can play their sport and become successful in life. Taft College has been lucky enough to mentor and help jumpstart some AMAZING athletics careers!

09/03/2026

Tickets ALMOST SOLD OUT!

The Taft College Foundation invites the community to the 16th Annual Taft College Alumni and Friends Cougar Cookout on Thursday -October 1, 2026, an evening dedicated to celebrating military service, community leadership, and distinguished alumni.
This year's event will recognize Taft Union High School as the recipient of the Taft College Foundation Community Spirit Award. For more than a century, Taft Union High School has served as a cornerstone of the West Kern community, preparing generations of students for higher education, careers, military service, and civic leadership.
Founded in 1912, the district has had a lasting impact on the region and played a pivotal role in the establishment of Taft Junior College in 1922, which later became Taft College. The Foundation is proud to recognize Taft Union High School for its enduring commitment to educational excellence and community partnership.
The evening will also pay tribute to Taft College Alumnus, Vietnam Veteran Roger Brown for his military service. Brown, who will participate in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in September, will be recognized during the event with the support of Safe 1 Credit Union, the event's Honor Flight Sponsor.
In addition, the Foundation will honor Doug Keeler as the 2026 Taft College Alumnus of the Year. A longtime reporter and photographer for the Taft Midway Driller, Keeler has spent decades documenting the people, events, and stories that have shaped the Taft community. His dedication to local journalism has preserved the history of West Kern while strengthening community connections.
Tickets are $40.00 for General Admission and $30.00 for Taft College alumni, faculty, and staff. Veterans can receive two complimentary tickets, courtesy of the event's generous sponsors. Tickets are available online at Taft College Foundation 2026 Cougar Cookout Tickets. Sponsorship opportunities remain available, including Alumni Sponsor ($1,000), Community Spirit Sponsor ($2,500), and Veterans’ Dinner Sponsor ($4,000).

Get your tickets here:

The Cougar Cookout is an annual event organized by the Taft College Foundation that help connect Taft College with the local community. Each year we are proud to honor a someone who embodies the Community Spirit as well as celebrate our veterans. This year the event will also highlight a distinguish...

08/19/2026

Westec is offering great classes!!!

08/17/2026

08/17/2026

🎉 Celebrating the completion of our 2026 Allied Health Pre-Nursing Internship Program! 🩺

Over the past six weeks, our students dove into hands-on experience across the healthcare field — building professional skills and exploring a variety of career paths, all while learning directly from the pros.

A huge thank you to our incredible partners who made this program possible:

🏥 Kern Family Health Systems, Adventist Health, and Dignity Health — our hospital partners who opened their doors and gave our students real-world exposure to the healthcare field
🏦 Bank of America, Chevron, Valley Strong Credit Union, Kern Health Systems, and Kern Community Foundation — our program sponsors, whose generous support made this opportunity possible for our students

Congratulations to every student who completed the program! Your dedication these past six weeks is just the beginning of what's ahead in your healthcare careers. 👏

Head to our page to see the full album of photos!

08/17/2026

"This is the last organization I will name as Nonprofit of the Year during my time in office. I wanted that recognition to mean something. I wanted it to go to an organization that represents the values of this district and invests in its future. The Taft College Foundation does exactly that. Through scholarships, student support programs, workforce training initiatives, and strategic community partnerships, the Taft College Foundation plays a critical role in preparing the next generation of leaders, professionals, and innovators. The Foundation is not just supporting a college. It is strengthening the future of Taft and the future of Kern County."

Thank you, Assemblyman Stan Ellis, for your inspiring words! And thank you for honoring the Taft College Foundation.