College Students Welcomed to the New School Year

November 2007

The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce participated in a welcome back to school gathering for college students from both OIT and KCC on October 6th at The Ross Ragland Theater and Cultural Center. This first time event, sponsored by OIT and KCC, featured a Bar-B-Que lunch cooked by the Sons of the American Legion, music provided by The Craig Allen Blues Band, and gift bags with discount coupons and free gifts provided by Chamber members and the local colleges.

Over 150 students attended the 3 hour event and were welcomed by the Chamber Ambassadors, local businesses, government officials and the public. Food and beverages were donated by Food Services of America, Thunderbird Market, The Epicenter, Antonio's Cucina Italiana, Safeway, Dickey's BBQ, OIT's Campus Dining and Pepsi Cola of Klamath Falls. Donations of gifts were made by Diamond Home Improvement, Smith-Bates Printing, the College of Cosmetology, The Daily Bagel, Gottschalks, the Ross Ragland Theater, Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union and the American Red Cross.

The event brought together staff and administrators from KCC and OIT as well as the Phi Delta Theta (OIT), ASOIT, Phi Theta Kappa (KCC), and the Science Club (KCC) to organize the event and help serve the attending students. The Shuttle offered complimentary rides to students returning to OIT's campus at the end of the day. Planning has already begun on a welcome back to college event again next year and Chamber members are encouraged to participate by helping with planning, donations of gifts and coupons or attending the event in person to welcome students to the business community here in Klamath County.