The 9th annual Klamath Promise Graduation Sensation took place in downtown Klamath Falls on Thursday, May 30th. Hundreds of spectators cheered on the nearly 1500 students. The parade included bands, mascots, almost 700 Class of 2024 graduating high school seniors in caps and gowns and nearly 800 Kindergartners from across all of Klamath County. Kindergarteners donned Class of 2036 t-shirts in their school colors donated by Klamath Community College. The parade was livestreamed by My Basin.
Immediately following the parade, the high school graduates joined together with family, friends and supporters in Veterans Park for a Party in the Park celebration and awards distribution. Cyrus Hamilton, a graduating senior from Mazama sang the National Anthem. Jessie Hecocta provided keynote remarks. The Graduation Sensation Party in the Park includes the awarding of gift cards for those going on to college, into the military, into the workforce, or who are undecided on their next step, as well as scholarships for those going to college. A total of 130 scholarships and gift cards worth $45,500 were announced to the crowd of graduates, families, and supporters. The verified list of winners will be shared in the next few days. This year 27 local business, organizations, and individuals contributed to awards:
Cascade Health Alliance - Justin Strauss, City of Klamath Falls, EagleRidge High School
Friends of the Klamath County Library, Glenn & Ursula Gailis, Hispanic Health Committee, Holliday Jewelry, Integral Youth Services, Kersey Law, Klamath Basin Behavioral Health, Klamath Community College, Klamath County Chamber of Commerce, Klamath County Commissioners
Klamath County School District, Klamath Falls City Schools, Klamath Open Door, Maurita Johnson, SkyLakes Medical Center, Moai!, Pelican Education Foundation, Retro Room Records, Ross Ragland Theater & Cultural Center, Rotary Club of Klamath County, Soroptimist Klamath Falls, Stork Family, Windermere Real Estate, Anonymous donors.
High school graduation is a significant achievement setting students up for future success, greater earnings and opportunities, and greater long term health outcomes. As the largest graduation celebration in all of Oregon and the entire West, this event is not possible with the many event supporters and volunteers. Special thanks to:
Air National Guard, American Sanitation, City of Klamath Falls Parks, City of Klamath Falls Streets
Citizens for Safe Schools staff, Ray & Susan Holliday, The Howard Family, Integral Youth Services staff, Klamath Basin Behavioral Health staff, Klamath Community College staff, Klamath County Library, Klamath County Public Health staff, Klamath County School District teachers, parapros, principals, bus drivers, district office staff, and others! Klamath Falls City Schools teachers, parapros, principals, bus drivers, district office staff, and others! Klamath Falls Police Department, Klamath Tribes Education & Employment staff, Klamath Union High School Digital Media program, Klamath Works, The Kersey Family, My Basin and KLAD, Oregon Department of Humans Services staff, Oregon Tech Educational Partnerships & Outreach, Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union staff, Safe Families, Sherwin-Williams, SkyLakes Foundation, Southern Oregon ESD Sign Language Interpreters, Southern Oregon ESD staff, Trevor McClung Construction. And many many others!
Congratulations Class of 2024 graduates!
The Klamath Promise is a community-wide initiative connecting the community and schools, from preschool through career and college readiness. Since 2012 the Klamath Promise has aimed to increase “Success through Education” for all students in Klamath County, whether success looks like joining the workforce or military, or going to college.
The Klamath Promise: Connecting and inspiring the community about the importance of education, attendance, and graduation, from early childhood to career or college transitions. Visit
to learn more!
Contact klamath_promise@soesd.k12
