Competitive scholarship pays 90% of unmet need for four years
May 17, 2024 / Seven Klamath County School District seniors – one from Bonanza, one from Falcon Heights/Mazama, two from Henley, and three from Lost River -- have been selected for four-year Ford Family Foundation Scholarships that will pay for 90 percent of their unmet college costs.
Recipients are Bonanza senior Julie Hess, Falcon Heights senior Isabella Heaton, Henley seniors Lily Preston and Erick Amador-Gonzalez, and Lost River seniors Chantelle Reyes, Bella Hernandez, and Angel Giovanni Lopez Romero.
The Ford Scholars Program is a highly selective scholarship that is awarded to students from Oregon and Siskiyou County, California who are planning to complete a four-year degree at a college in their home state. The scholarship amount varies by student, providing 90% of unmet need, up to $40,000 a year, based on their college’s cost of attendance.
Of 6,000 applicants, about 200 are selected for interviews. Of those, around 125 students from Oregon and 14 students from Siskiyou County, Calif., are selected based on exceptional academic and personal potential and motivation to succeed in college. Awardees also must demonstrate care for their community, a strong work ethic, leadership potential, and an overall outstanding character.
Meet KCSD’s Ford Scholars:
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Julie Hess
Bonanza Jr/Sr High School
Future/college plans: Attend Oregon State University to study Agricultural Sciences.
GPA: 4.0
Community involvement: Volunteer at crab feeds, bull sales, pheasant dinners, and memorial events in the Klamath Basin.
School involvement/activities: Varsity volleyball, varsity basketball, varsity softball, Bonanza FFA chapter president, ASB activities director, senior class president.
In 10 years: Working as an agriculture teacher at Bonanza High School.
Biggest challenge: Moving away from my younger brothers.
Favorite class: Anatomy
Parents: Joe and Anna Hess
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Isabella Heaton
Falcon Heights/Mazama
Future/college plans: Attend Oregon Tech to study GIS and natural resources
GPA: 4.0
Community involvement Involved in church and its events, volunteers at community events (such as the fair, Third Thursdays, and charity auction dinners), is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife volunteer, and volunteers at New Horizon Christian School.
School involvement/activities Was involved in five varsity sports (track, basketball, soccer, cross country, and softball), was the ASB activities director for student government, and was a leader in CRU/FCA club
In 10 years: I would like to be working in either the wildlife biology or the forestry field and would like to have a family.
Biggest challenge: My biggest challenge in high school was tearing my ACL and trying to keep up on classes because I missed so much school.
Favorite class: My favorite class was advanced chemistry with Mr. Throne because he was such a great teacher who made it interesting.
Parents: Emily Heaton and Daniel Heaton
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Lily Preston
Henley High School
Future/college plans: I will be attending Oregon State University with a major in finance.
GPA: 4.0
Community Involvement: I am the lead youth facilitator for You Matter to Klamath Suicide Prevention Coalition and the chairman and founder of You Matter Youth Prevention. I am a volunteer for National Honor Society, Key Club, and Hunger: Not Impossible. I am also an assistant manager at Maurices.
School involvement: DECA president, varsity soccer captain, and math team member
In 10 years: I hope to work in finance or accounting for a nonprofit organization that helps underserved communities!
Biggest challenge: I had to learn how to manage mental health and speak kindly to myself. The ability to practice self-love has allowed me to thrive.
Favorite class: Calculus
Parents: Patty and Chris Preston
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Erick Amador-Gonzalez
Henley High School
Future plans: Attend Oregon Tech for mechanical engineering, then transfer to OSU For biomedical engineering
GPA: 4.0
Community involvement: Key Club
School involvement: Math team
In 10 years: Have a job making robotic prosthetics to support family
Favorite class: AP history with Mrs. Hepper
Parents: Yessica Gonzalez and Juan Amador
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Chantelle Reyes
Lost River Jr./Sr High School
Future/college plans: Attend Oregon Tech to receive a bachelor's degree in health science to pursue dental hygiene
GPA: 3.94
Community involvement: I have over 200+ community service hours by doing things like concessions, line judging, helping at track meets, and helping my elderly neighbor.
School involvement/activities: I am a part of FFA, FBLA, LatinX, Leo’s Club, The Kindness Club, and National Honor Society. I have been fortunate enough to be the class president all throughout high school. I have served as ASB president and vice president for the years 2022-2024. The sports I have been involved in are volleyball, track and field and soccer.
In 10 years: Working in a private or public dental clinic. I will have my own house and car.
Biggest challenge: My biggest challenge has been coming from a small school that didn't have the resources to prepare me for the dental hygiene classes I will be taking in college.
Favorite class: Leadership
Parents: Carina Moreno
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Bella Hernandez
Lost River Jr/Sr High School
Future/college plans: Attend the University of Oregon and major in marine biology
GPA: 4.0
Community involvement: 375 hours of community service. I have gained these hours through organizations such as the Lost River Arts and Cultural Alliance (LRACA), Friends of the Children, City Hall of Merrill, Leo's Club, Kindness Club, and Polar Bear.
School involvement/activities: I have participated in basketball and track for sports. As for clubs, I have been included in FFA, FBLA, Kindness Club, Leo's Club, and National Honor Society.
In 10 years: I see myself working along the coast as a marine biologist, my dream job. I will hopefully have my own place, whether it be an apartment or a house. My goals are to have a down payment on a house but I will be grateful with either one.
Biggest challenge: My biggest challenge was when I acquired seven fractured bones after being in a car accident my sophomore year where the other person was at fault. I had to quit sports and rely on the people around me for everything. It was very hard to keep up with school work and a difficult transition from being independent and well-active to not being able to do anything at all.
Favorite class: I have two favorite classes. My first one was biology (101 and 102) online through Klamath Community College. My other favorite is my calculus class with Mrs. Hahn who teaches my classmates and I about math, college studying, and simple life lessons.
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Angel Giovanni Lopez Romero
Lost River Jr./Sr. High School
Future/college plans: I have decided to pursue a business administration major with a political science minor. My dream goal is to use my degree to create positive change and support for communities in need. I hope to soon have the opportunity to do for countless others what my family has done for me. My ultimate goal is to use my knowledge and skills to advocate for policies that promote inclusivity and provide opportunities for those who are often marginalized in the business and legal worlds.
GPA: 4.0
Community involvement: 350+ community service hours through volunteering at local school events (line judging, concessions, bookkeeping, game day organizer, etc.), organizing food drives for disadvantaged families in our communities, participating in environmental clean-up projects around town, organizing fundraising activities (school carnivals, bake sales, car washes, dinners, etc.) for club organizations, and many more.
School involvement/activities: ASB (Associated Student Body) president 2023- 2024, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) president of media and reporter 2021-2023, NHS (National Honors Society), Latin X Culture Club vice president 2023-2023, FFA (Future Farmers of America) member and Market Lamb showman, Leo’s Club member, and Kindness Club member.
In 10 years: In ten years, my aspiration is to build and advocate for the development of a consulting firm providing immigrants with all-inclusive services, involving help with legal documentation, language learning, employment placement, and cultural integration initiatives. Witnessing my parents pave paths they could never walk, I wanted to break free from this relentless cycle in my community and help create a welcoming and supportive environment where immigrants can access resources and guidance to successfully navigate their new lives in a foreign country and walk those paths they never thought possible.
Biggest challenge: My biggest challenge would include embracing vulnerability and learning to trust in the process of life unfolding. It required me to release my need for certainty and embrace the unknown with an open heart and mind.
Favorite class: Writing 122
Parents: Evangelina Romero de Lopez and Juan Lopez
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