CHC - Ahlborn Earth Sciences Scholarship

Bill Ahlborn is a proud alumnus of Crafton Hills College, and the College has played an important role in his life for the past 40 years. Bill’s love of travel started with World War II when he was sent to Europe. There he received the Purple Heart for action in the Battle of the Bulge. Bill’s first career was in Journalism. Then he worked as a civilian employee for the U.S. Air Force at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, as well as overseas. When Bill’s career with the Air Force ended in the 1970s, he decided to sample a variety of Crafton courses in hopes of finding something to keep him active during his retirement years. That led to his teaching not only at Crafton, but at Cal State Fullerton and Orange Coast College. After he stopped teaching, he continued to give lectures and lead desert field trips. He also spent a few years as a guest lecturer with various cruise lines.
Bill gives Crafton all the credit for inspiring him to share his knowledge and love for geography, geology, weather and climate, and deserts all around the world. Bill has now visited 150 countries, all 50 states, all seven continents, and around 400 National Parks. Bill and his wife, Paula, have established an endowed fund to support Crafton’s Earth Sciences program with a scholarship being one of the ways to directly support students.
As part of the support an annual scholarship is provided to an Earth Sciences major who has a minimum GPA of 2.5, has demonstrated a financial need, and who will continue with a minimum of 8 units in the fall. Preference and special consideration for students who are continuing at Crafton and/or who are considered to be re-entry students.