Featured Heroine: Judy Miner,
President of Foothill College

Judy Miner was a first-generation college student, whose immigrant parents only had a grade school education. But she always loved school, worked hard, got her degree, became a teacher - and now leads the most prestigious community college in California.

Family Background: "My parents came from Mexico and Guam with very little education. I was the youngest one of 5 children, and the only one to go to college."

Where I Grew Up: San Francisco , CA

Pre College Education: Catholic Schools in San Francisco

College Education: Lone Mountain College and University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

"Aha" Moment: "My teachers told my parents that I should be in the college prep classes, that I should go to college."

Biggest Challenge To get there: "I had to get over the feeling that I was a drag on the family - that it was ok to go to school, not pay rent, not a have job out of high school."

Biggest Challenge In College: "I was really struggling with my own cultural identity. People didn't understand why I was in college, and my parents were struggling."

Favorite Mentor: "Martha Kanter, Chancellor of Foothill - De Anza Community College District."

Favorite Teacher: The nuns were very encouraging, especially Sr. Madeline, my 7th Grade teacher. And I really knew how to write when I got to college; I had good instruction."

Favorite Author: Frank Delaney