Don Alexander Cordero Endowment

Established in October 2010 to provide a perpetual scholarship award to Science and Philosophy majors attending Mission College

The Don Cordero endowment was founded by his family, colleagues, former students and friends to benefit students interested in pursuing a science or philosophy education. This scholarship endowment is his lasting legacy that continues his lifelong commitment and support of higher education throughout the California community college system.

Don's journey began January 16th, 1937, son of a Polish immigrant mother and Spanish father. Devoted to Theology from an early age, he entered the seminary shortly after high school in 1955 and was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1968. During his time in the seminary Don started his higher education with a double bachelors in Physics and Philosophy at Spring Hill College in Mobile Alabama. While working in Los Angeles, he took graduate classes in physics and astronomy at UCLA. Later he earned a Masters in Theology at Santa Clara University followed by a Masters in Counseling from the University of Arizona. In 1970, Don left the Jesuits and a year later married his wife Juanita. Through the years, they had 5 children, all of which attended community college at some point in their educational development.

Don was hired at West Valley Community College in 1974 as a counselor promoting programs for low income students. In 1978 he transferred to the recently opened Mission College to develop counseling and educational programs where he remained for another 30 years of devoted service to his students. During a combined span of 38 years he served on the Academic Senate for eight years, four of those as Senate president. In addition he was the department chair of counseling, division chair of student services, and voted Teacher of the Year in 2005. Late in his career he returned to teaching Astronomy, his lifelong passion. To further his commitment to the students and future of Mission College, he ran successfully for the West Valley - Mission College Board of Trustees in 2006. He served on the board until cancer left him physically unable to attend the meetings and passed shortly thereafter.

Former colleagues, students and friends at large remember Don as a true listener and marvelous story teller. He was a man who could weave every question into an educational parable with wit, humor and a perfectly timed delivery. For Don, story telling was integral to expressing concepts and ideas.

To promote and continue higher education in science and philosophy is to honor Don Cordero, and is the founding principle behind providing financial assistance with this endowment. Through science you are able to comprehend the basic structure and organization of this world and universe we inhabit. Through philosophy you can question and appreciate the life we give it. Without curiosity in both you miss out on what it means to participate fully in the human experience.

"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls." - Joseph Campbell