Oregon Tech Foundation Awards $1.1 Million in Student Scholarships
Fourth consecutive year of million-dollar scholarship support recognizes student achievement and donor generosity.
The Oregon Tech Foundation has awarded more than $1.1 million in scholarships to students for the 2025–26 academic year — marking the fourth consecutive year the organization has surpassed the $1 million threshold. The awards were recognized on Nov. 1 during the Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet, held on the Klamath Falls campus and livestreamed to the Portland-Metro campus.
This year, 340 scholarships ranging from $200 to $16,000 were distributed to students across a variety of academic programs. These awards support academic excellence, assist students with financial need, increase access for diverse student populations, help recruit and retain students in specific fields, support student-athletes, and provide crucial help for near-graduates completing their degrees.
Kristalina Derry with daughter. Submitted photo
First-year nursing student Kristalina Derry, enrolled in the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education pathway to OHSU Nursing at Oregon Tech, spoke at the event about the impact of receiving the Columbia Pacific Foundation Scholarship and the King Family Endowed Scholarship as a young mother.
“Every night when I stay up late studying after [my daughter] falls asleep, and every morning when I quietly get ready before she wakes up, those moments are filled with hope, hope that one day she will see that her mom worked so hard to build a better life for her,” Derry said. “When I feel like giving up, when doubt creeps in, when I think I can’t do this anymore… I look at her beautiful, strong face, and I know I have to keep going. For her. Scholarships are the reason this hope has room to grow. They don’t just help financially; they keep doorways open. They remind students like me that even when life has taken us on a different path, our dreams are still worth pursuing.”
The Foundation awards both annual and endowed scholarships. Endowed gifts — the most common at Oregon Tech — are placed in a permanent fund, with a portion of the investment income awarded each year. Donors often create endowed scholarships to honor family members or continue a legacy of community support.
Lori Garrard, who helped establish the Bill Garrard Memorial Endowed Scholarship, spoke about its significance.
“My father-in-law, Bill, was not only an inspiring figure in our lives, but also in the Klamath community,” she said. “My husband Mike and I were determined to keep his legacy of generosity and service alive by creating this scholarship in his name. It may be small now, but it is mighty. Our goal is to grow the scholarship so it can continue to bless Oregon Tech students and play a part in their success for years to come.”
Lori and Mike Garrard. Submitted photo.
New endowed funds supporting students this year include the Frank Lynn Hagan ’96 Engineering Scholarship, the John E. Leeper Scholarship, and the Ki Rabe Respiratory Care Scholarship.
Stories about donors and scholarship recipients — as well as information about establishing a fund — are available through the Oregon Tech Foundation at www.oit.edu/foundation.
Cover image: Student Colton Hurst speaking at scholarship banquet. Submitted photo.