The 8th annual Klamath Promise Graduation Sensation took place in downtown Klamath Falls on Thursday, June 1. Almost 700 graduating high school seniors from all 12 high schools across all of Klamath County paraded in caps and gowns down Main Street with bands and mascots, then joined together with family, friends and supporters in Veterans Park for a celebration and awards distribution. A moment of silence was observed for those no longer with us, the Henley Touch of Class sang the National Anthem and David Stork, Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Legal Officer at Lithia Motors, Inc., provided keynote remarks as the students embark on life after high school.
The Graduation Sensation includes awards for those going on to college, into the military, into the workforce, or who are undecided on their next step. This year 101 scholarships and gift cards totaling nearly $45,000 were announced to the crowd of graduates, families, and supporters braving the rain. More than 20 local business and organizations contributed to awards this year:
Cascade Health Alliance
Citizens for Safe Schools in partnership with Youth Development Oregon
Dana Orr- The Lending Lady of the Klamath Basin
EagleRidge High School
Friends of the Klamath County Library
Glenn & Ursula Gailis
Healthy Klamath Partners
Hispanic Health Committee
Holliday Jewelry
Kersey Trust
Klamath Basin Behavioral Health
Klamath Community College
Klamath County Chamber of Commerce
Klamath County Board of Commissioners
Klamath County School District
Klamath Health Partnership
Pelican Education Foundation
Ross Ragland Theater & Cultural Center
Sky Lakes Medical Center
Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls
The Stork Family
Windermere Real Estate
Anonymous Donors
Special thanks to our entire community and all who help make the largest known graduation celebration happen! Including but not limited to Aurora Simpson, City of Klamath Falls Parks, City of Klamath Falls Streets, Diamond Home Improvement, Klamath County Library, Klamath County School District, Klamath Falls City Schools, Klamath Falls Police Department, Klamath Union High School Digital Media, Southern Oregon ESD Sign Language Interpreters, Southern Oregon ESD Staff, and the 50+ Individual Volunteers!
The winners for the 2023 Graduation Sensation are…
Winner First | Winner Last | Winner School | Award Type | Amount | Sponsor |
Yoselin | Alonzo | Henley | Gift Card | $250 | Klamath Community College |
Antonella | Audeh | Falcon Heights Academy | Scholarship | $1,000 | Citizens for Safe Schools |
Dylan | Bachman | Mazama | Gift Card | $50 | Anonymous |
Shaylee | Batten | Henley | Gift Card | $250 | Klamath Community College |
Chloe | Bautista | Mazama | Scholarship | $2,000 | Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls |
Leslie | Beanland | Henley | Scholarship | $500 | Healthy Klamath Partners: Cascade Health Alliance, Klamath Health Partnership, Sky Lakes Medical Center |
Ryan | Bicknell | Mazama | Gift Card | $50 | Klamath County Commissioners |
Sophia | Branum | EagleRidge | Scholarship | $1,000 | Citizens for Safe Schools |
Jacob | Bruner | Henley | Gift Card | $100 | Klamath County Chamber of Commerce |
Jacob | Bruner | Henley | Gift Card | $50 | Klamath County Commissioners |
Madison | Camino | Falcon Heights Academy | Scholarship | $500 | Hispanic Health Committee |
Jonathan | Cazarez Mendez | Lost River | Scholarship | $1,000 | Citizens for Safe Schools |
Hope | Chase | Henley | Scholarship | $2,000 | Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls |
Layla | Chavez | Henley | Scholarship | $500 | Holliday Jewelry |
Staci | Chipman | Klamath Union | Scholarship | $500 | Ross Ragland Theater & Cultural Center |
Chayse | Clements | Mazama | Gift Card | $100 | Klamath County Chamber of Commerce |
Tania | Cobian | Henley | Gift Card | $50 | Anonymous |
Ashley | Conlogue | Klamath Union | Scholarship | $500 | Glenn & Ursula Gailis |
Kayla | Cook | Mazama | Scholarship | $2,000 | Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls |
Margot | Cross | CrossPoint | Scholarship | $500 | Healthy Klamath Partners: Cascade Health Alliance, Klamath Health Partnership, Sky Lakes Medical Center |
Haylee | David-Stewart | Bonanza | Gift Card | $250 | Klamath Community College |
Brody | Derra | Henley | Gift Card | $50 | Klamath County Commissioners |
Kristalina | Derry | Klamath Union | Scholarship | $500 | Stork Service Scholarship - Commitment to Community Award |
Alivia | Dibrito | Klamath Learning Center | Scholarship | $1,000 | Citizens for Safe Schools |
Indrani | Espinoza | Klamath Union | Scholarship | $500 | Pelican Education Foundation |
David | Ferguson | Mazama | Gift Card | $50 | Anonymous |
James | Ferguson | Mazama | Scholarship | $500 | Klamath County School District |
Allison | Fournier | CrossPoint | Scholarship | $2,000 | Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls |
Jude | Garlitz | Klamath Union | Scholarship | $500 | Klamath County Commissioners |
Kaylee | Gettman | Klamath Union | Gift Card | $50 | Klamath County Commissioners |
Bryan | Goff-Currier | Mazama | Scholarship | $500 | Klamath County Commissioners |
Charles | Gonsowski | Henley | Scholarship | $500 | Friends of the Klamath County Library |
Esteban | Gonzalez Hernandez | Klamath Union | Gift Card | $250 | Klamath Community College |
Jalen | Gotoy | Klamath Union | Gift Card | $50 | Klamath County Commissioners |
James | Grounds | Mazama | Gift Card | $50 | Klamath County Commissioners |
Owen | Grove | EagleRidge | Scholarship | $500 | EagleRidge High School |
Izabella | Guadarrama Dahl | Bonanza | Scholarship | $500 | Windermere Real Estate |
Mary | Hanley |
