KU Digital Media Celebrates National Recognition
KU Digital Media honors a standout year of student storytelling, leadership and national recognition.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Klamath Union High School’s Digital Media Awards Night celebrated more than a list of student honors. The evening also highlighted a growing student media program built around creativity, leadership, professional experience and community connection.
Held Thursday inside the KU Theater, the event recognized student work in photography, filmmaking, graphic design, broadcasting, yearbook, journalism, print production, DJ services and leadership. Families, educators, business leaders and community partners gathered as the program reflected on a year that included national recognition, professional-level projects and travel opportunities extending beyond Klamath Falls.
“This program is not simply about teaching skills,” KU Digital Media instructor Kelly Armijo said. “It’s about creating a culture of belonging. We want students to feel capable, seen, and encouraged to pursue high standards for themselves both inside and outside the classroom.”
Armijo said the program’s focus is on helping students build confidence, professionalism and leadership through real-world work and partnerships.
“When students learn to communicate with confidence and authenticity, they become more than competitive in their future careers and endeavors,” Armijo said. “They become leaders, and they raise the bar for others who follow behind them.”
Several student films and documentaries were featured during the evening, including projects focused on agriculture, environmental stewardship, Native American veterans, biodiversity research and community storytelling.
One featured project, “The Freedom to BEE,” explored regenerative farming practices in the Klamath Basin and how bees are helping local farmers track biodiversity and soil health. KU students Kenzi Freid, Marianna Armijo and Bella Armijo worked with local farmer Carl Casteel and community partners to produce the film.
“I was incredibly impressed by the professionalism of the students and all the knowledge they had and how they applied it,” Casteel said. “This video blows me away because they took America’s 250th birthday and applied that to what we’re doing locally. That is just really remarkable.”
Freid said the project connected directly with classroom learning while also showing how film can be used to tell stories about science, farming and environmental awareness.
“It was such a cool opportunity,” Freid said. “I had no idea about farming or any of that before. It was really interesting to see all the science behind it and get to film it.”
Bella Armijo, who filmed portions of another featured documentary titled “The Land Remembers,” said the experience aligned with her future goals.
“I’m really passionate about the environment and film and how film can make a change,” Bella Armijo said. “This perfectly aligned with what I want to do.”
During the ceremony, Digital Media Director Dan Stearns surprised Armijo with a $1,000 scholarship to support her pursuit of film studies and environmental sciences at Montana State University.
The night also highlighted KU students’ growing national presence in filmmaking and broadcasting competitions. KU senior Ainsley Garrett was recognized for earning an honorable mention in C-SPAN’s national StudentCam documentary competition for her film centered on Native American military service and the warrior spirit within the Klamath Tribes.
Chris Madden, Director of State Government Affairs for Spectrum, traveled from Portland to recognize Garrett during the ceremony.
“This year’s competition was exceptionally fierce and competitive,” Madden said. “Which makes it even more remarkable that we have a national award winner here tonight at Klamath Union High School.”
Garrett also recently earned second place nationally in the Latest Generation Film Contest and will travel to Chicago later this year for the organization’s red carpet awards event.
“It was really an honor for me to be able to narrate and help tell this story,” Garrett said. “I’m very proud of my family’s military history, and this project meant a lot to me.”
Community partnerships were a major theme throughout the evening. Representatives from Sky Lakes Medical Center, Klamath Community College, Discover Klamath, the Downtown Association, local businesses and nonprofit organizations were recognized for supporting the program’s growth.
Stearns said grants and partnerships continue to expand opportunities for students, including a recently awarded Ford Foundation grant totaling $40,000 annually.
“This program keeps growing because of community support,” Stearns said. “These students are doing real work, real storytelling, and producing professional-level projects.”
Dozens of students received awards and pins recognizing their work across media disciplines. Seniors were also honored for helping establish the culture and expectations of the KU Digital Media program.
“You collectively have set the tone for what this program is becoming,” Armijo told the graduating seniors. “You’ve created a culture that is encouraging, inspiring, and impressive for younger students coming into the program.”
Stearns said the senior class has helped shape the direction of the program over the past several years, including educational travel experiences to Hawaii, the Caribbean, Alaska and an upcoming trip to Europe.
“What an amazing senior class,” Stearns said. “You’ve helped transition this program into something really special.”
The evening concluded with Stearns and Armijo thanking students, families, staff and community supporters for helping KU Digital Media continue to grow.
“We have really amazing plans moving forward,” Stearns said. “Europe is just the beginning.”
KU Digital Media Awards Night Honorees
Rising Star Award recipients included Alina Lowe, Annabel Whitford, Audrina Cedillo, Avery Jensen, Camila Garcia, Josh Pope, Kevin Townsend, Malayah Abril, Mayci Hatcher, Seven Harris, Thea Baumann, Tule Saluskin and Rosemary Uhl.
The KU student video crew behind productions showcased during the night included Derrek Wells, Diego Apalategui, Hudson Mancebo, Jacob Heitzke, Justin Huang, Khloe Haddox, Maddysen Tippets, Madison Georgia, Maya Gomez, Olivia Cruz, Shivelle Todd, William Webb and Wyatt Skelton.
Taytum Harmon received the evening’s Best Actress Award for work connected to the program’s production of “Young Frankenstein and Bride.”
Photography All-Star recognitions were awarded to Allie Nelson, Demi Guthrie, Finley Chase, Kenzi Freid, Mazie McCoy, Talan Chancellor and Zoe Bitzer.
Community organizations and partners recognized during the evening included Smith Bates, KBBH, Sky Lakes Medical Center, the Downtown Association, Klamath Community College, Denham Music and Discover Klamath.
Graphic Arts Award recipients included Adeline Bates, Ashlyn Sharp, Audrina Cedillo, Bentley Harmon, Chloe Sharp, Jackson Thompson, Josue Rios Quintero, Khloe Ford, Lexxi Sacco, Marianna Armijo, Mason, Shivelle Todd, Tanner Reitt, Thea Baumann and Trenton Johnson.
Print Shop Master Award recipients included Adilyn Seghetti, Alexandra Gonzalez, Audrina Cedillo, Bentley Harmon, Itzel Flores-Pena, Jake Neupert, Malayah Abril, Mariana Armijo, Yamaira Morelos Pena and Zahira Rico.
Students involved in Pels Press, KU’s student-led magazine, were also recognized, including Adalie Giampietri, Ben Graham and Elsie Baumann.
Yearbook students honored during the night included Alexandra Gonzalez, Evelyn DeDios, Itzel Flores Pena, Kylee Carlson, Madison Georgia, Robert Davis and Yamaira Pena.
Stearns gave special recognition to Elijah Tequianes Reyes for his leadership and commitment to the yearbook program.
“I’ve never had a person like you,” Stearns told Tequianes Reyes during the ceremony. “You just take care of everything.”
Broadcasting awards were presented to Elias Soriano and Zahira Rico. Stearns described Soriano as “the man who runs the whole thing” when discussing KU’s live broadcasting system and sports productions.
Members of the KU DJ Team were also recognized after the student-run business generated approximately $15,000 over the past year while giving students hands-on professional experience. Team members included Alice Fenner, Connor Schwetner, Hallie Kautzman, Hope Hartley, Jean Heverly, Kendall Kratochvil and Khloe Haddox.
Thumbs Up Awards and leadership recognitions were presented to Perry Dean, Leah Anderson, Carrie Northridge, Christy Smith, Sandy Yazzi, Kyle Baird, Heather Shaffer, Michael West, Evan Pine, Adam Randall, Karl Wenner, Ainsley Garrett, Joe Mike, Felicia McNair, Jim McCabe and Bella Armijo.
Superstar Senior Award recipients included Ainsley Garrett, Alice Fenner, Analeze Flores-McDonald, Ariah Miller, Bella Armijo, Ben Graham, Caitlyn Fettinger, Carter Dahm, Demi Guthrie, Evelyn DeDios, Jake Neupert, Kiera Lonner, Kinna Freid, Kylee Carlson, Leona Higgins, Madi Smith, MJ Myron, Shania Barton and Talan Chancellor.
Special leadership recognitions were awarded to Ben Graham, 2026 President Award; Khloe Haddox, 2027 President Award; and Bentley Harmon, 2028 President Award.
More photos: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ews9heESK/
Cover image: Klamath Union High School students and supporters are recognized during the KU Digital Media Awards Night, which celebrated student work in film, photography, broadcasting, design, journalism, yearbook and other media programs. Photo courtesy of Klamath Falls City Schools.
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