By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – To over 800 graduating seniors this year in eastern St. Tammany Parish, the Project Graduation party will be one of the most memorable nights of fun they will ever have.
But to the countless volunteer parents who have ensured the party has continued every year since starting here in 1993, it is a life saver for their teens.
Project Graduation for Slidell and Pearl River is ramping up for the five nights of parties to be held at Fritchie Park beginning on Thursday, May 5 and continuing through May 11. It will be the culmination of a tremendous volunteer effort from local parents who want to ensure their graduating seniors wake up safely the next morning for the next chapter of their lives.
Project Graduation started here in 1993 as a way to ensure graduating seniors don’t end up injured or killed on graduation night—an all too common occurrence nationally when many graduates see that night as the time to blow out one final high school party.
That usually means the use of drugs or alcohol and statistics show that one-third of those who die under the age of 21 in a car accident lose their life on graduation night.
Project Graduation offers a safe alternative in a way that seniors have been attracted to since volunteers offer an incredible party that includes food, music, games, great prizes, hanging out with your fellow grads and most of all, no drugs or alcohol.
The parties are 100 percent reliant on donations from the community and the Slidell/Pearl River Project Graduation organization has continued to put in the hours it takes to build up a $60,000 annual budget to pull off the five area parties for Salmen, Slidell, Northshore, Pope John Paul and Pearl River high schools. Students pay $40 in advance to attend or $50 at the door.
“When I first attended a Project Graduation night I thought it was a great party,” volunteer Wendy Way said, who saw her first son graduate from Northshore several years ago.
“But when I continued to volunteer each year for the parties I realized this is not just about a fun night for the kids, but it’s about keeping them safe. And it has absolutely made a difference,” she added.
Since Project Graduation started in this area in 1993 there has not been one serious car accident involving seniors on grad night.
“The parties are so great because the kids have a blast, they have a last chance to be together and they are safe,” Way added, now serving as co-chair with Kim Bearden for the Project Graduation parties.
All five parties are held at Fritchie Park Gymnasium at no cost since the city of Slidell has donated the rental to the event. Kids arrive at 11 p.m. and must sign in, then cannot leave until 5 a.m.
During that six hour time they will have the party of their life, with every teen leaving with a minimum of one prize and most of them taking home a number of prizes.
When a teen arrives at the party they sign in and immediately go to a table to pick a “graduation present.” They are prizes donated by area merchants and include items the teens might need at college, such as makeup, sports items, backsacks, apartment items and more.
But that is just the start to the prize opportunities. Volunteers have also solicited bigger prizes such as bikes, gas cards, microwaves, small refrigerators for an apartment, blenders, computers, printers, TVs and more. These prizes are “purchased” as the teens play a multitude of games during the night, winning play money that is used to “buy” the prizes.
“Most kids leave with some pretty good stuff,” Way said.
There is also a drawing for $500 in cash, which doesn’t occur until 4 a.m.
Way also loves the Project Graduation format because all five schools work together to create the exact same party for each high school. Slidell High is responsible to get gifts donated, Pope John Paul handles all the food donations, Pearl River is responsible for the welcome/check-in table, Northshore handles advance registrations from the students and T-shirts, and Salmen handles decorations of the gym.
DJ music is provided by Missi Spinosa of Witness, who is a longtime popular face in Slidell through her band and for performing individually with karaoke, which is offered for the kids that night.
Way said that a child can leave the party, but only if parents are called and come to pick them up.
“But we very rarely have anyone leave,” Way said. “This is a great chance for the kids to have one big party together for the last time—they really love it and the parents are happy since they know their child will be coming home safe in the morning.”
Project Graduation takes a large number of volunteers to keep providing the parties. Along with a board of directors that guides the work during the year with many volunteers from each school, there is a need for approximately 75 adult volunteers the night of each party, something Way said they are usually hustling to provide.
When students come into the party they sign a plaque, get some start-up “money” for prizes and are given a Bible from the Gideon’s. During the night a videographer shoots the action and then each student will get a DVD of the party night—something that has proven to be one of the most popular items from the party.
Way said Project Graduation is always looking for more sponsorships to help meet their goal, something that is always a challenge to start each year, and they are seeking more volunteers to be a part of the organization.
Even though she currently has a second son who is a senior at Northshore High she plans to continue volunteering with the group after he graduates because “I love it—it is very obvious what a good thing this is.”
There will be another general membership meeting for Project Graduation at Fritchie Gym on Tuesday, May 3 at 6:30 and new volunteers are welcome. You do not need to have a child in school to be a part of the group.
Anyone who would like to help in any other way, with donations or sponsorships, can contact Way at 985-768-9968 or co-chair Kim Bearden at 985-774-9384.