Final plans made for Project Graduation
By Melinda L. Lucas
Albany High School seniors are on the final countdown to graduation,and their parents and community members are finalizing plans for the traditional Project Graduation party.
Project Graduation is an all-night drug-free and alcohol-free party following commencement exercises and has been an annual tradition in Albany since 1988.
This year’s fundraising drive has resulted in adequate funding, but chairman Kenzie Fairchild said this week that any additional monies given in the next week will subsidize the seniors’ gift card amounts.
The 2022 event will start at the Feed Store with check-in by 10:30 p.m. on May 27 and finish with the final prizes and gifts given out at the Feed Store sometime around 5:00 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Participants should have already turned in a completed Project Graduation contract in order to attend, and no one will be admitted to the party after 10:30 p.m. or allowed to re-enter if they leave.
According to organizers, Project Graduation is only for the graduates and the six junior ushers, plus any of the graduates’ parents who are chaperoning.
“Plans are going well,” said Fairchild, who added that the events and locations scheduled for the night are not being announced and everything will be a surprise for the seniors. Graduates will need to bring comfortable clothes, a swim suit, and a towel, she said.
Drawings will be held every 30 minutes for door prizes valued from $50 to over $100, with every senior having at least one chance in the pot.
“Every senior’s name will be put in the drawing one time,” said the chairman. “Then for every time seniors worked, donated, or their parents helped with an event, their names go in the drawing again.”
The more times a senior helped, the greater the odds of winning prizes.
Most of the 34 members of the graduating class worked more than the required four times and will receive gifts valued at about $500, depending on the final count and total contributions.
At the end of the night, all seniors at the party will receive a portion of about $5,000 in Albany Bucks, which can be spent at participating Albany Chamber member stores.
“We are very excited about giving large increments of Albany Bucks to the graduates,” Fairchild said. “Not only is it a great prize, but that money is going back into the community.”
The Albany Task Force will draw for two $500 scholarships to be awarded to one boy and one girl at the end of the night.
In order to be eligible for a Task Force scholarship, a senior must stay at the party all night and be planning to attend a college or trade school after graduation.
Parent volunteers are still needed to help with all of the scheduled activities during the evening. Fairchild said parents can contact her to sign up to help at 325-721-5233.
