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Forrest VanderBorgh (’11) credits his time at ASH with equipping him with the tools to navigate a rapidly changing, interconnected world. In this interview, he reflects on his formative years at the school, and how those experiences laid the foundation for a diverse career in engineering.

 

 

Forrest VanderBorgh ’11 grew up at ASH, starting in first grade and continuing until graduation. “ASH was the only school I really attended,” he recalls. “I have to give ASH a lot of credit for exposing me to a much larger world and cultivating my appreciation for the many cultures I would be immersed in through my work and vacations.”

 

ASH’s flexible and adaptive approach to education, Forrest was able to undertake and prepare for challenging academic ambitions. “Through ASH’s adaptive approach towards schooling, it prepared me to embrace programs such as Mini-United Nations, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced Placement. However, I didn’t realize the true impact of the tools ASH enabled me to develop until after achieving my undergraduate degree and joining the workforce in the United States.”

 

 

Forrest emphasizes that the skills he developed at ASH continue to influence both his professional and personal life. “I credit my time at ASH every day, whether it be through my hobbies or professional aspirations, for the fundamental skills and abilities that allow me to impact the communities around me,” he says. “My experience in the finance, energy, and insurance sector, directly working with federal entities and international teams to create state-of-the-art solutions, would not have been possible without the experiences ASH granted me.”

 

Reflecting on the teachers who shaped him, Forrest shares vivid memories: “Whenever we approach new projects, I always think of teachers ranging from my foreign language teachers, such as Mvre. Groeneveld and Mrs. Middleburg, whose patience allowed me to explore Dutch as a foreign language, but also prepared me to rapidly pick up other languages around the world depending on project requirements.”

 

He credits his art teachers, film instructors, and STEM educators for their lasting influence: “The number of times we've had to rapidly create complex hardware display interfaces always reminds me of my art teachers like Ms. Kular and Mr. Tarsnane. As an avid fan of cinema, I always think about my film classes with Gary Cramer; the stories of his classes live on as the lights dim during our family movie nights, where we discuss direction, style, cinematography, and the methods that manifest the magic of film.”

 

 

Looking ahead, Forrest describes a career that has taken him from Michigan to California, spanning multiple industries. “Fourteen years ago, when I graduated ASH, I had no idea where I would be, or what I would be doing, but I was certain of one thing: the opportunities that ASH allowed me to weigh are as limitless as ever.” Today, he resides in Glendale, California, and works as a software engineer in the healthcare sector.

 

Forrest’s work extends beyond technology. “I am involved with the board of directors in a Political Action Committee advocating for healthcare and healthcare insurance reform across the United States. Iwork with my team to use the power of technology to lower healthcare costs for providers, facilities, insurers, and most importantly, the people,” he explains.

 

Despite the many demands of his professional life, Forrest remains connected to ASH and his fellow alumni: “Many of my fellow alumni live in the area, whom I get together with on weekends and during the year. I love ASH and think about my time there constantly.”