2026 Outstanding Alum: Alfred Koala

Alfred Koudougou Koala grew up in rural Burkina Faso, West Africa, in a farming community where survival depended entirely on the land. His village had no electricity, running water, or paved roads. As a child, there were times when he would go days without food, and clean drinking water wasn't always guaranteed. Yet even in those conditions, he saw opportunity.

"Being alive today feels like a miracle," he said. "Education became my path to changing those conditions."

Koala was 10 years old when the first elementary school was built three and a half miles from his village, which he walked to daily. After finishing elementary school, he ran nearly 12 miles each day to attend middle school in a neighboring village.

Years later Koala made the bold decision to pursue higher education in the United States. The process of securing a student visa took a year of interviews and documentation. When he finally landed in New York, he assumed California was nearby.

Eventually, he boarded a Greyhound bus and traveled across the country to Chico, where he completed an English language program at Chico State. When it was time to further his education, Butte College's affordability and welcoming community stood out.

"When I visited campus, I felt at home," he said. "The environment was peaceful, and the teachers were incredibly supportive. Because English was my third language, they slowed down and made sure I understood."

Koala also left an impression on his peers. His former Butte College professor, Tom Grothe, remembers Koala for his humility, kindness, and gratitude.

"His journey from hardship to leadership serves as a profound source of inspiration for students, faculty, and community members alike," Grothe said. "By dedicating himself to improving the lives of others-particularly those most in need-he continues to model the values of empathy, global citizenship, and social responsibility that Butte College seeks to instill in its students."

It was through a class assignment at Butte College that Koala got the idea to launch his nonprofit, Feeding Nations Through Education.

"Today we equip families with farming tools, fund clean water wells, provide micro loans for women, and support more than 1,500 students from elementary school through university," Koala said. "Education changes everything."

Koala's journey challenges the typical narrative of success. From a village without running water to leading a nonprofit that impacts hundreds of thousands, Koala proves that scarcity can produce vision - and that vision, when paired with action, can transform nations.

"Anything is possible," he said. "It doesn't matter where you start. If I can learn English as a third language, earn degrees, and build a nonprofit impacting thousands, others can too."

Koala will be honored at this year's Butte College Gala on Saturday, April 25, at 5:30 p.m. at Manzanita Place. The annual event celebrates outstanding alumni whose lives and work reflect the transformative power of education and service. Tickets to the event are available now at butte.edu/gala.