College choice: ‘Signing Day’ at Lost River

Fifteen seniors from Lost River High School made commitments to attend Klamath Community College during the school’s annual signing day. Lost River has a reputation for encouraging its students to plan to attend a post-secondary school upon graduation

Lost River High School is fast becoming the role model for high schools around the state by achieving a 100 percent graduation rate the last four years and nearly all of the graduating class moving on to post-secondary education.

It all comes down to the culture instilled in the students when they first enter the school located between Merrill and Malin that serves students in grades 7 to 12.

“I’m really proud of the post-secondary education culture that we’ve built here,” said retiring Principal Angela Wallin. “Signing Day is part of what our younger kids get to see of that culture and that is part of helping them plan for their future. Signing Day helps expose our student body to different schools and it increases interest in furthering their education, whether it be in vocational education or a university.”

This year, 37 students are graduating, with 13 committed to attending Klamath Community College. Other schools the students are attending include Oregon Institute of Technology, University of Oregon, University of California at Santa Barbara and Notre Dame.

“KCC has been a great partner to work with for helping students pick a post-secondary school,” Wallin said.

The entire school and parents turn out for Signing Day, which was May 14 this year. There’s lots of cheering for the graduates as they sign their certificates declaring where they are going to attend school in the fall.

The event has been ongoing for eight years, with KCC playing a major role in obtaining graduates for the last five years.

“I have been involved for the last five years,” said Oscar Herrera, the Director of Retention and Student Success at KCC. “We have close ties to Lost River that we have cultivated over the years.” Last year, Herrera was the keynote speaker for the assembly.

The relationship starts early in the fall when KCC staff visit Lost River, check in with the students, advise them of their options and answer their questions. On Signing Day, they help with registration and financial aid.

“Some of these students are first-generation to attend college. And, they are an underserved population. So, this is their shot,” Herrera said.

“All of these students do really well at KCC because we establish relationships with them early,” Herrera said. “They know us well, they know the advisors, so when they arrive on campus, they have a support system.”

“Plus, the kids think we’re pretty cool,” laughs Herrera. “You don’t get that too often.”

The new soccer club on campus also helps with recruiting. This year, senior Amadeus Hernandez is the first high school recruit for the Badgers. He was given a special team shirt at the ceremonies.

Jana Dunlea, a Lost River graduate and current principal at Ferguson School, will take over as principal next year.