Cinco de Mayo Scholarship

About the Scholarship

Lutheran Community Services’ Hispanic Advisory Board invites high school juniors and seniors of Hispanic heritage studying at Klamath County or Klamath Falls City high schools, or who are working on the Advanced Diploma program at Klamath Community College, to apply for the Cinco de Mayo Scholarship.

Both boys and girls are encouraged to apply.

The scholarship committee will take into consideration the applicant’s academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, community involvement, Spanish language ability and Hispanic heritage.

The scholarship winner will be expected to participate in the Cinco de Mayo Parade down Main Street and Festival at Veterans Memorial Park in Klamath Falls.

The Hispanic Advisory Board is a proud supporter of Klamath Promise

The scholarship prize amount will be announced at a later date.

For scholarship requirements and application form, please click here

The 2019 Cinco de Mayo Scholarship was made possible by a generous grant from the Pacific Power Foundation. Thank you to Pacific Power for your generous support.

Carlos Sanchez, Erin Schulten, Pacific Power’s Todd Andres, Dora Hoffmeister, Ana Pinedo and Gustavo Gutierrez receiving the grant check for the 2019 Cinco de Mayo Scholarship.  

Scholarship Winners

Scholarship Winner and Miss Cinco de Mayo 2019 Samantha Recino and Dora Hoffmeister.

Scholarship Winner and Miss Cinco de Mayo 2019

Samantha Recino

The Hispanic Advisory Board is pleased to announce that our scholarship winner, Samantha Recino of Klamath Falls, was crowned Miss Cinco de Mayo on May 4, 2019.  A senior at Mazama High School, Samantha plans to pursue a degree in Education at Southern Oregon University.  Confident and outgoing, this young leader was involved in student government and the Kindness Club at her high school for four years.  Those who know her well speak of her overflowing heart, and her desire to help others.  Samantha expresses gratitude for the opportunity she has had to grow up with the influence of two cultures, and her fluent Spanish is a point of pride.  She is dedicated to serving as a role model in the development of young people, especially Latino students. 

The 2019 Cinco de Mayo Scholarship was made possible through a generous grant from the Pacific Power Foundation.  The Hispanic Advisory Board would like to extend our thanks to the Foundation for the opportunity to aid in financing Samantha’s studies, as well as to inspire future Hispanic leaders to follow her example.  Samantha is a credit to her family and community, and we have no doubt she will strive to reach her highest academic and professional expectations.

Scholarship Winner and Miss Cinco de Mayo 2018 Victoria Gaeta (left), scholarship Runner-Up and Cinco de Mayo Princess 2018 Beatriz Serrato (right) and Dora Hoffmeister (center).

Scholarship Winner and Miss Cinco de Mayo 2018

Victoria Gaeta

Scholarship winner Victoria Gaeta was crowned Miss Cinco de Mayo 2018 on May 5 at Klamath Falls’ Veterans Memorial Park.  Projecting at once confidence and sensitivity, this Bonanza resident plans to study biochemistry and molecular biology at Oregon State University.  Seeking out greater academic challenges and diversity of extra-curricular activities, Victoria commuted daily to Henley High School in Klamath Falls.  While taking demanding classes such as chemistry, statistics and calculus, she served as Henley High School Band’s clarinet section leader and rose to the position of Assistant Drum Major as a senior.  During her high school career, Victoria was active in Future Farmers of America (FFA), mentoring several fellow members on the FFA Creed for a public speaking competition.  She also spent more than 100 hours tutoring students at the Merrill Migrant Summer School.  Raised speaking Spanish in Southern California, Victoria expresses great gratification in being bilingual.  Her devotion to family and commitment to the community make her an excellent example of Hispanic leadership emerging from Klamath County.  The Hispanic Advisory Board takes pride in having selected Victoria as scholarship winner and wishes her all the best in her academic career.    

Scholarship Runner-Up and Cinco de Mayo Princess 2018

Beatriz Serrato

Graduating from Lost River Jr./Sr. High School in Merrill, Beatriz Serrato is our 2018 Scholarship Runner-Up and Cinco de Mayo Princess.  Bright, determined and caring, our scholarship recipient plans to study at the College of Cosmetology in Klamath Falls.  After completing her vocational courses, Beatriz would like to work in a salon, using her Spanish skills to help those around her.  During her junior and senior years in high school, Beatriz earned high marks in her classes with the goal of applying for scholarships. Through her involvement with Future Business Leaders of America, Beatriz won a contest with a scrapbooking project made up of pictures collected throughout the year.  Above and beyond her dedication to academics and school activities, Beatriz has displayed commitment to the community.  For her senior high school project she partnered with a local church to create a Blessing Box, a large pantry containing clothing, personal care items and food for families in need; this Blessing Box continues in operation today.  Her Hispanic heritage, a source of identity and satisfaction, has defined the person she is today.  The Scholarship Committee was impressed by Beatriz’s dedication to education and family, and we are confident that this young leader’s future will be bright.  We are proud to have Beatriz representing both the Hispanic Advisory Board and the Klamath Basin, and wish her much success and fulfillment in the coming years.