Competitive scholarship pays 90% of unmet need for four years
May 21, 2025 / Two Klamath County School District seniors – one from Mazama and one from Henley -- have been selected for four-year Ford Family Foundation Scholarships that will pay for 90 percent of their unmet college costs. Recipients are Mazama senior Dominic Melgoza and Henley senior Adrien Sanchez.
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 around 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:
|
Dominic Melgoza
Mazama High School
Future/college plans: I plan to attend Oregon State University and major in kinesiology
GPA: 3.8
Community involvement: Volunteered at Toys for Tots, National Honor Society, and did job shadowing at Elevate Physical Therapy and Tater Tots.
School involvement/activities: FBLA, Student Government, varsity athlete in basketball, track, and golf
In 10 years: Would like to be working as a sports physical therapist working with athletes, whether high school, college or professional level
Biggest challenge: Tearing my medial patella femoral ligament my junior year of basketball and having to have surgery and recover to get back to playing basketball for my senior year.
Favorite class: Some of my favorites were Sports Med and Advanced Sports, Advanced Chemistry, and Master Tech in Health Occupations
Parents: Jamie Passien, Stepdad Jake Ayers
|
Adrien Sanchez
Henley High School
Future/college plans: Plan to get my contracting license this summer and then attend Oregon State University to study bioengineering
GPA: 3.97
Community involvement: Worked at Freshgreen Organics, volunteered to help at the Klamath Falls Farmers Market, volunteer with Klamath County Masters Gardeners
School involvement/activities: FFA chapter president, theater, wind ensemble band, Key Club, math team
In 10 years: I hope to be helping provide prosthetics to countries that don’t have access to that level of medical technology.
Biggest challenge: Fitting all I want to do into the day
Favorite class: Anatomy or Government
Parents: Nicole Sanchez and Jorge Sanchez
|
|
|
