Klamath County, Oregon – Klamath County students preparing for life after graduation have helped put two local schools in the spotlight. Bonanza Junior/Senior High School and Gilchrist Jr./Sr. High School have both earned College Access Champion recognition for their work supporting college and career readiness.
For Bonanza, the honor comes with a repeat achievement: this is the school’s second consecutive year receiving the award. At Gilchrist, the recognition will include a banner and badge celebrating its commitment to helping students explore their next steps.
The awards, announced in recent days, come from Oregon Goes To College. They recognize schools that involve students and families in exploring careers and colleges, completing college applications, navigating financial aid and planning for education or training beyond high school.
Together, the two honors highlight work across the Klamath County School District to help students consider their options and prepare to pursue them. The recognition covers several parts of that process, from discovering possible career paths to getting support with applications and financial aid.
At Bonanza, Principal Jordan Osborn credited both students willing to take on new experiences and staff members working to make those experiences available.
“As a team, we have worked incredibly hard to expand opportunities for our students and give them greater access to college experiences and career pathways,” said Principal Jordan Osborn.
“I’m proud of our kids for stepping up, embracing the challenge and immersing themselves in opportunities to grow. I’m equally proud of our staff, who continue to think creatively, push boundaries and find new ways to open doors for our students.”
Gilchrist’s recognition also reflects a shared effort. Principal Tammara Sandefur pointed to school staff, the GEAR UP team and community partners as contributors to the opportunities available to students.
“This recognition is a reflection of the collective efforts of our staff, GEAR UP team, and community partners who continue to create opportunities for our students to explore postsecondary pathways and envision futures beyond high school,” said Gilchrist Jr/Sr High Principal Tammara Sandefur.
“We are incredibly proud of this accomplishment and grateful for the support that allows us to continue expanding college and career access for our students. It is rewarding to see the work happening at Gilchrist recognized in this way.”
Both principals described the awards as recognition of work shared by multiple people. Their statements also emphasized continued efforts to expand access, with students taking part in opportunities and educators helping create them.
The honors give both schools a reason to celebrate while keeping the focus on what comes next for their students: making plans for college, careers and further training.
