One last party

By DILLARD COLLIER 

BCHS

Boyle County High School concluded another successful year Saturday, May 20, when students, staff, parents and friends celebrated the Class of 2017’s graduation. It was a memorable occasion when students spent their final moments as high-schoolers and prepared to face the future as graduates. After the momentous event, graduates and their families took time to relax and cherish the transition, while faculty members immediately worked to disassemble chairs, clean remnants of confetti, move tables and equipment, and secure the building for Project Graduation.

BCHS established Project Graduation for the primary purpose of saving lives. It ensures high school graduates are given a safe environment to celebrate with peers. According to the article Grad Night: The True Dangers of Drinking and Driving (www.collegebingedrinking.net), “The percentage of automobile fatalities that involve alcohol jumps from 33 percent to 40 percent on graduation night, which is a testament to how drinking and driving spikes when kids are in the mood to party. One-third of those under the age of 21 who die in accidents lose their lives during graduation season and, not surprisingly, the vast majority of these … expire in car crashes.” BCHS staff understands the risks alcohol poses on teens and its association with after graduation celebrations. Therefore, BCHS joined many schools across the country in hosting Project Graduation to strike the perfect balance between safety and fun.

Project Graduation began at 11 p.m. Saturday and continued until 5 a.m. Sunday morning. Graduates were provided with an almost endless array of entertainment activities. There was an Xbox-One where friends performed concerts with the game Rock Band: a Wii where others had intense dance competitions in Just Dance; a photobooth with a large selection of silly hats and clothing; board games; a tie dye station; miniature golf; basketball; a painting/art area with contributions from DecoArt; several inflatable games that included boxing, jousting, bubble balls, soccer, Hungry Hippo, and archery tag; Family Feud; and, of course, sleeping. 

In addition, graduates were given access to a huge buffet of various foods, beverages and desserts to combat the effects of fatigue and keep everyone satisfied. There were pizzas, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, barbecue, donuts, ice cream, fruit, vegetables, cake, cupcakes, water, sodas, sub sandwiches and more. Restaurants scattered all over Danville and the surrounding area donated food and contributed to feeding the graduates all night. 

Finally, Project Graduation reached its end with the prize giveaways. Impressively, this year’s volunteers were able to equalize the value of all the prizes and balance their budget so that each person received a prize of a similar worth. Prizes included mini-fridges, televisions, dorm kits with vacuums and extension cords, backpacks filled with  wireless headphones or earbuds, car kits, bluetooth speakers, camping/outdoor kits, signed Montgomery/Gentry personal memorabilia, and more.

Project Graduation is an enormous endeavor that requires thorough planning and organization. Under the incredible leadership of Susan Michael, the senior coordinator at BCHS, and thanks to all the volunteer committees and key volunteers like Tammy Moore, the Food Chair, Beth Leahey, the Donations Chair, David Arnold, the Security Chair, and Bille Jo Graves, the Entertainment Chair — Project Graduation was a tremendous success. 

During late January, the donations committee sent letters to businesses asking for financial contributions. In March, the food committee began organizing the meal plans, and the entertainment committee began planning the games and activities. Ronnie Logue offered graduation photo packages that allowed parents to help fund Project Graduation. It was essentially a huge community effort that resulted in an amazing outcome. It’s absolutely inspirational we live in such a generous community that devotes so much time and resources to an event like Project Graduation. 

    As an attendee of Project Graduation, I can justly admit it was an incredible high school finale experience. I enjoyed being with friends and participating in all the offered activities. It was a thrilling and relaxing six hours. Near the early morning, it became a war on sleep and everyone was definitely ready to embrace the summer, and a lazy Sunday.

    On behalf of the Class of 2017 and our parents, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to the following individuals and businesses who helped with funding, prizes, and/or food for our event. 

Ace Hardware and Appliances

Advance Auto Parts

Allen Company Inc

Alum Springs First Church Of God

American Greetings

American Legion Battlefield Post

Arby’s

Auto Connection

Auto Zone

Automate Of Danville Inc

B & E Furniture LLC

B & L Jewelers

Balfour

Berry Plastics

Best Donuts

Beto & Bogardus Pllc

Bluegrass Community Bank Inc

Bluegrass Community Technical College

Bluegrass Drugstore

Bob Allen Motor Mall

Bokays Flowers & Gifts

Bowlarama Lanes

Boyd Family Dentistry

Boyle County Quarterback Club Inc

Boyle County Agency for Substance Abuse

Boyle County Baseball Homerun Club

Boyle County Circuit Court Clerk 

Boyle County Clerk

Boyle County Farm Bureau Federation

Boyle County Judge

Boyle County Judge Executive

Boyle County PVA

Boyle Heating & Air Conditioning

Bright Leaf Resort

Brothers’ Barbecue

Bumble Bee Sports

Burke’s Bakery

Caldwell Collision Center

Caldwell Stone Company

Calvary Baptist Church

Car Express Wash

Central Kentucky Federal Savings Bank

Central Kentucky Interventional Pain Treatment

Central Kentucky Surgeons, PSC

Centre College Alumni Office

Centre College Bookstore

Cerci’s

Chaplin River Catering LLC

Chase Bank

Cheddars

Chills Wine and Spirits

Chinatown Restaurant

Christopher Herron

City Of Perryville

Coffman’s Supply

Coldwell Banker V I P Realty

Commonwealth Credit Union

Community Arts Center Inc

Community Trust Bank

Control Logic

Corning Inc.

Craig A. Butler, CPA

Cue On Main/Nellie Burton’s Steakhouse

Cumberland Family Medical Center

Custom Air Inc

Custom Creations Landscaping

D & C Small Engine

Dairy Queen

Danville Bike and Footwear

Danville Boyle Co. Parks & Recreation

Danville Cinemas 8

Danville Country Club Inc

Danville Eye Center

Danville Family Dentistry

Danville Nephrology Consultants PSC

Danville Office Equipment Co

Danville Pediatric Dentistry

Danville Rotary Club

Deco-Art

Derby Shoppe

Dexter Real Estate & Insurance

Diesel Tech

Domino’s Pizza

Dr Barry M Kowalik 

Ellis Florist

Ephraim McDowell Health

Eye Associates Optical

Fairway Leasing DBA Aaron’s Sales & Lease

Family Dental Care

Family Medicine Clinic

Fazolis

Feistritzer Storage

First Baptist Church

First Christian Church Disciples of Christ

Flowers Bakery

Fort Knox Federal Credit Union

Gash-Fitzpatrick Insurance

Gentle Dental Care

George & Tisha Lane

Great American Dollhouse Museum

Guerrant Real Estate

Hair Sensations

Harrodsburg Community Church

Health First Chiropractic

Heart of Kentucky United Way

Hitachi

Holiday World

Howard Carpenter Remnant Store

Hugh Gates Hines III

Illusions Hair Designs

Indian Hills Christian Church

Inter-County Energy Coop Corp

Jacob & Allison Tamme

Jimmy Johns

John Michael Montgomery

John Sheene Electric

Johnson Pohlmann Insurance Co.

Junction City First Baptist Church

Kentucky Soaps and Such

Kentucky’s Smokin’ Grill Inc

Kerbaugh & Rodes

Keystone Industrial LLC

Kings Island

Kleckner’s Collision Center Inc

Knights of Columbus; Council Number 6317

Kroger

Lafayette Engineering Inc

Lawson Tractor

Lee Stephens

Lee’s Famous Recipe

Lexington Ave Baptist Church

Lexington Ice Center

Lil’ Cherubs @ Centenary Methodist Church

Lily Manor Day Spa

Little Caesars

Logue Photography

LSC Communications

Major Floor Covering

Mallard’s Restaurant

Malt Beverage Educational Corporation

Maple Tree Gallery Inc

McDonalds

McDowell Wellness Center

McGlone Construction Co., Inc.

Mike Gordon

Montgomery Gentry

Morleys Wheel Service Inc

Muffler Shop

Nash, Cleveland & Godfrey

Norton Center for the Arts

O’Charleys Inc

Open Arms Community Church

Orange Leaf

Pampered Chef

Papa Johns

Pap’s Beef Jerky

Parksville Christian Church

Patrick Cooper Painting

Perfect North Slopes

Perryville Battlefield Marathon

Perryville Furniture Outlet

Perryville United Methodist

Pies and More

Pioneer Playhouse

Pitman Creek

Pizza Hut

Preceptor Alpha Zeta

Presbyterian Church of Danville

Pruitt Industries

Robinson Hughes Christopher

Ruth & Shearer, CPAs

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church

Sandy Surprises

SDS Services, Inc.

Shane & Melissa Baker

Sheehan Barnett & Hays

Springfield Laundry

St. Mary’s Catholic

State Farm Insurance – Robert Miller

Still Cuttin’ Up

Stith Funeral Home Danville Inc

Stuart Powell Ford Inc

Subway

Subway Restaurant

Sun Tan City

Tarter Farm & Ranch Equipment

The Hub Coffee House & Café

The Medicine Shoppe

Tim McCoy Construction Co

Trinity Episcopal Church

United Structural Systems

USA Signs LLC

VFW Post 3634

Wal-Mart Stores Inc

Ward Vision Center

Weldquip Inc

Whitaker Bank

Wilderness Trace Veterinary Clinic

Wilderness Trail Distillery

William Country Market

William Shelby Designs

Wok N Go

Xtreme Style Signs

Zaxbys