6/14/07

MHS Project Graduation: Providing fun, saving lives
By John Lesaine

JOHN LESAINE/Manning Timrs

Robert Ridgeway, center, can barely contain his excitement, as more than 130 members of the Manning High Class of 2007 listened to a pre-event briefing before Project Graduation began in earnest. Now in its 19th year, the overnight lock-in is a community-supported event to keep new grads off the roads and in a safe but festive environment.

While many people were in their beds in the wee hours of the morning on Saturday, June 9, the Manning High School Class of 2007 was just getting their party started. Over 130 of Manning High School’s newest alums invaded the YMCA in Sumter for Project Graduation.

Now in its 19th year, Project Graduation is an all-night party for new graduates. This alcohol and drug-free event has succeeded in preventing graduation night tragedies that can occur. Manning High School serves as a pioneer as it is believed to be the only school in the area that hosts this event.

“We had an excellent turnout this year,” said MHS Principal Michael Shorter. “We had a lot more kids participate this year as we brought three buses and everyone was well-behaved. This goes to show the closeness of the class of 2007.”

The energetic graduates loaded up the buses in Manning and arrived in Sumter a little after midnight. Upon arrival, they received a surprise visit from Shelley Bryson Benthall, Miss South Carolina. Benthall, who hails from Florence, is a student at Clemson University majoring in community recreation, camp and sports management. She offered words of congratulations to the partygoers and shared her story with everyone in attendance. She encouraged the partygoers to make good choices.

Project Graduation was not short on activities for students. Drawings for cash prizes were held every hour with each student winning at least $25. The graduates also did their best Sherlock Holmes impersonations to find items that were hidden all over the facility for more cash prizes. In addition, partygoers had access to the gymnasium, pool, and racquetball courts as well as the youth center for video games, pool tables and table tennis. If that wasn’t enough, a DJ provided music and games in the aerobics room while food donated by various restaurants in Manning was available.

This year Project Graduation was able to hand out over $10,000 in cash prizes to students, an all-time high since the program was started. “We have some new industries that have come into town and they have been extremely generous,” said co-coordinator Kay Young. “Also Farmers Telephone donated our T-shirts this year which freed up a lot of money.”

The purpose of Project Graduation is two-fold. Not only does the event save lives, but it also presents the opportunity for the graduating class to bond together before class reunions are held in the future.

“It gives the kids one last chance to be together before they head off to college, the military or into the workforce,” said Shorter. “Sometimes they act like they don’t want to come, but when they get here, they have lots of fun.”

Shorter gave words of thanks to those who made Project Graduation possible.

“We want to thank all the businesses and individuals that donated money, food, and any other items for tonight,” he said. “Without them, it would have been impossible to put this on. We also want to thank Mrs. Young, Mrs. (Linda) Taylor, Mrs. (Susan) Anderson, and Ms. (Mary) Graham for their efforts to make this a reality. These ladies worked hard and they deserve the recognition.”

Shorter also had words of thanks for the biggest fans of them all: the parents.

“Our parents deserve a big thanks as well,” he said. “Their support was unwavering.”

When asked why she thought Project Graduation has been so successful, Young didn’t hesitate in her answer.

“It’s the kids,” she said. “We are able to offer them such great prizes and it gives them one last chance to be together as a class. Everyone, from the kids to the chaperones, had fun tonight.”

According to Young, all future Manning High School graduates can rest assured that Project Graduation will be around for years to come.

“We’re not going to quit as long as we are saving lives,” she said.