After the beta class’s 8 p.m. graduation ceremony, they’ll have a safe place to celebrate finishing high school – Project Grad.

“Project Grad is an alcohol/drug free night following graduation for the students to have fun in a safe environment,” senior parent Windi Catchpool said. “We have raised money all year long in order to fund this event.”

Project Grad was created in 1979 after the Oxford Hills area in Maine experienced seven alcohol-related and drug-related teen deaths during the commencement season. As a result, the schools communities in the area offered their 1980 graduating students an alternative to the traditional graduation night drinking, creating a safe party called “Project Graduation.”

Parents have been planning for the celebration all year with several fundraisers, including a 5K run at the end of March. Thanks to the volunteers, sponsors, donations, and race participants they had raised over $5300 for the event. In addition, their fundraising has included a casino night and spirit nights at many local restaurants.

Project Grad will be held in the cafeteria, June 8. Participating graduates will arrive starting at about 11 p.m. throughout the evening there will be food, entertainment, free games and a wide variety of athletic activities. In the morning, breakfast will be served and students will be allowed to leave starting at about 5 a.m. Adult chaperones are stationed throughout the facility for the duration of the event and no one is allowed to enter or leave from the time the students arrive at night until checkout in the morning.

“If I wasn’t going, I’d probably be at work, but since I am, I’m going to say goodbye to the school,” senior Mitch Reaves said.