What is Project Graduation ? ? ? ?

What is Project Graduation?  A lot of people do not know.  Project Graduation is the result of many fundraising events during the school year to support an all-night celebration for senior class and their guests.  Project Graduation celebrations began in 1989 at Robert E. Lee High School and has been a Baytown tradition since then with this years celebration being held in May 2008 that will be the 20th consecutive year. e success that we have experienced. 

Lee's Project Graduation 2008 Celebration will be held on May 31, 2008.

Our celebration will start about 11:00 PM on Saturday May 31st and will last throughout the night until about 6:00 AM on Sunday, June 1st. It is a night packed with a variety of activities scheduled throughout the night for the participating students at Main Event. Last year some of the individuals from the Class of 2007 received prizes such as Laptop and Desktop Computers, MP3 Players, Stereos, Flat Screen Televisions, CASH, and other electronic and household devices. This event provides a fun and safe supervised environment for the graduating senior’s last social event together with their high school friends before they all part on their individual life journeys.

Project Graduation events have become a well-established tradition at many schools across the nation.  The original event grew out of a spate of tragedies that occurred in Maine. The State of Maine lead the Project Graduation mania across the nation.  The State of Maine also publishes a Project Graduation Manual (click here to review manual) to help groups be successful.  Two years in a row, students were killed in drug and alcohol-related accidents on graduation night - 18 students in all in those two years.  All of these deaths were the result of drug or alcohol-related highway crashes on the night after graduation. The idea of Project Graduation has been spreading across the nation because graduation night and prom night are the two most deadly nights for high school teenagers. Project Graduation has saved lives in every community where it is held and hundreds of schools in the State of Texas and many other states now host these parties each year.  Project Graduation is supported in part by the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Public Safety Officer's Association, Baytown's Representative Wayne Smith, insurance companies, major league sports teams and many other businesses that provide the support to fund this worthwhile effort.

The success of this event is in direct relation to the number of volunteers working throughout the year towards a common goal. Project Graduation also depends on funds raised by the generous donations from local businesses and the community's support of our many fundraising events! Many fundraisers and donations will be necessary during the year since the planned budget for this year is over $30,000.

Project Graduation is a HUGE endeavor, and it takes more than a handful of people to make it work! The Project Graduation Committee needs parent and student volunteers from the senior, junior, sophomore and, yes, freshman class to help with fundraisers, plan future fundraising events, and chaperone the Project Graduation event.  This is why it is so very important for you to get involved in any capacity and encourage your friends to join us in making this project a night that graduates will remember for the rest of their lives. We are only asking for a SMALL amount of your time. Even though your child is not a senior, your assistance is needed now, as preparations begin over a year in advance. Junior parents are desires to prepare them for next years event and to help when senior parents are involved with their student.  This keeps the tradition alive for future graduates! Keep in mind that you will be asking for the same assistance when your child is a senior!

High school graduation is a time for our teens to celebrate their accomplishments and to make plans for their future.  Please help up with this celebration!  Robert E. Lee High High School's tradition of Project Graduation as an alternative type of celebration began in 1989.  The Project Graduation event held for the Class of 2007 had over over 430 students participate in that event and we are planning for a larger crowd this year.  We hope to see you there!