IMAGE GALLERY: Project Graduation is the Last Hurrah for Class of 2011

About 88 percent of the graduates participated together in one last evening of fun, known as Project Graduation, during an overnight party starting on June 4 at Teamworks in Northborough. 

The Australian-themed event began Saturday at 10 p.m. as the newly-minted graduates arrived, many of them wearing the tye-dyed t-shirts they created for last fall’s Senior Parade. After checking in, graduates were sent Down Under to enjoy various activities and shows until their release time at 5 a.m. Sunday, June 5.

The Jackaroos and Jillaroos had many activities to choose from. Drop-in activities included soccer, volleyball, ping-pong, and inflatables. A tattoo station was also a popular stop, and new this year was a photo booth, donated by the Westborough Newcomers Club, for friends to have one last photo taken together. 

Scheduled shows included Animal Adventures and a hypnotist. According to MaryAnn Bryant, president of the Board of Trustees, “The hypnotist is the highlight of the event. There is no doubt about that.” The hypnotist show began around 3 a.m. when energy levels were beginning to wane and ran about an hour and a half.

While most events occurred downstairs on the fields, the Teamworks lounge on the upper floor was transformed into an underwater café where graduates went to snack on chips and salsa, pizza, slushies, Hoodsie cups and other grab-and-go munchies. 

Graduates had an opportunity to reminisce courtesy of their parents, most of whom made photo collages on poster board. These posters hung on the walls between the fields. Most collages included the name of the college the graduate will attend in the fall and an array of photos from birth to present highlighting proud moments and cherished times with friends and family. 

Bryant noted that Project Graduation came to be in 1991 “due to the foresight of some very loving parents. It started because a group of parents had the vision to say ‘what can we do for our kids, and what can we do that’s a lasting thing for our kids and the kids of Westborough so that nothing bad happens.'"

According to Diane Barrette, chaperone co-chairperson, the first Project Graduation “wasn’t nearly as elaborate as this."

Planning for this event began early, with letters going out last fall to families of juniors and seniors requesting donations and volunteers. According to Karen Hutchinson, the suggested $35 donation provides “a night of safe fun, a night they will always remember.” 

Parents of seniors usually do not volunteer, so that their graduate can let his/her hair down. Most volunteers were parents of juniors, although there were many others as well. 

Bryant thanks "tremendously every parent who volunteered for this event, but especially Karen Hutchinson and Kim Potts for chairing this year’s event." 

In addition to being a night of fun and “the last hurrah” for the class of 2011, it is  a great example for the graduates of what can happen when a community comes together.

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