Senior Marianne Lafland sold 231 raffle tickets while classmate Colby Ouellette sold the most desserts and auction tickets (14) for Presque Isle High School’s Project Graduation Dessert and Auction Night on March 28, according to Assistant Principal David Bartlett. (Contributed photo)
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The countdown to June graduation is on for PIHS seniors. Thanks to last week’s fundraiser auction the Class of 2017 will have the money for a fun Project Grad.
A couple hundred students, parents and others braved poor weather March 28 to gather in the high school cafeteria to help raise money for the senior class’ final hurrah of their PIHS social career.
The annual Dessert and Auction Night is the largest fundraiser for the graduation event. The community donated upwards of 60 items for the auction, including handmade blankets, quilts and various gift baskets.
Folks were also treated to desserts provided by members of the community.
The March 28 auction including ticket sales for admission brought in $9,391.
The fundraiser also coincides with the Project Grad raffle. Students sell hundreds of raffle tickets each year for a chance to win a diamond bracelet donated by Wilder’s Jewelry, two tons of pellets donated by Corinth Wood Pellets and four live music performance tickets donated by Waterfront Concerts.
The sale of raffle tickets brought in $2,465. PIHS senior Marianne Lafland sold the most tickets. Winners of the raffle were Greg Cropley, Ashley Elliot and Kathi Brown.
Money raised for Project Grad pays for Senior Night, an event held the Tuesday before graduation, as well as the celebration that takes place right after the Friday, June 9th graduation ceremony.
Graduating students will meet at the Knights of Columbus Hall for Senior Night. On the slate for entertainment is Marko the Magician. Student’s will have the opportunity to draw for round-trip tickets to Boston provided by PenAir. In past years there’s been enough tickets to distribute to half of the senior class of 120 members, according to PIHS Assistant Principal David Bartlett.
Following commencement on June 9 the Project Grad main event takes place at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. A year’s worth of planning gives students an evening full of fun including inflatable obstacle courses, laser tag, limousine rides and more.
“It gives our seniors a safe chemical-free place to celebrate their accomplishments with their fellow classmates,” Bartlett said. “Quite often it’s the last time they’re going to see some of their fellow classmates.”
PIHS held its first Project Grad in 1985, according to Bartlett. The Project Grad movement stemmed from communities experiencing a number of chemical-related deaths around graduation.
Students spend Friday evening into Saturday morning taking part in various activities and scarfing down munchies. As an incentive for seniors to make it through the night there’s a drawing for prizes early Saturday morning.
“Traditionally we’ve had 90-95 percent attendance rate to our Project Grad, so we feel that’s a sign that it’s successful,” Bartlett said.
The majority of the work fundraising and organizing the event is done by the parents of the seniors.
