About Scarborough Project Graduation

Project Graduation

A chemical and alcohol free alternative for celebrating graduation, Project Graduation began over 25 years ago as a result of a tragedy involving seven drug and alcohol-related deaths of high school students following commencement in a small Maine community.

Scarborough High School parents continue to embrace this concept and it is through cooperative efforts of parents, teachers, students, concerned citizens and the business community that our senior students can experience a fun and safe night of post-graduation activities.

It provides a senior breakfast on the first day of school, a professional photo of your student receiving the diploma and an all night chem-free celebration.

Project Graduation buses the students to and from the event, provides them with food, refreshments and entertainment for the entire evening, along with memorabilia to bring home.

The earlier portions of the program are still in development. The program will culminate with a lock-in at Howard's Sports with lots of games and entertainment to fill the evening.

Keeping our Graduates Safe on Graduation Night!

In 1979, the Oxford Hills area experienced twelve alcohol and other drug-related teen deaths during the commencement season. As a result of this tragic experience, the schools and communities in the Oxford Hills area offered their students (Class of 1980) an alternative to the “traditional” graduation night drinking and driving temptations that all too often ends in tragedy. Since then, Scarborough High School and high schools in Maine and across the Nation have made Project Graduation the “Tradition” of Graduation Night Activities.

What is it all about?

A parent and community sponsored alcohol and chemical free party for graduating seniors. Graduates are bused from the evening graduation ceremony to celebration events and then back to the high school the next morning. We have nearly 100% participation and the event is free to all graduating seniors.

Who makes it happen and how?

Parent volunteers begin to plan and prepare one year in advance of graduation. The Project Graduation Committee meets monthly from October-June.

We are a non-profit entity. We are 100% dependent upon community donations. Our major Fundraiser is the Annual Silent/Live Auction held in March.

What else does Project Graduation do?

Project Graduation hosts an annual senior breakfast on the first day of school.

We hire a professional photographer to take a photo of the graduate receiving their diploma.

Would you like to help us?

Please watch the weekly Powerschool for announcements of upcoming meetings. For more information on how you may join this group of parent volunteers, please contact any of the following Project Graduation 2010 co-leaders:

Donna Guerette - donnaguerette@yahoo.com
Deb Malia - sndmalia@myfairpoint.net
Tammy Broadhurst - Tbroadhurst@unum.com
Barbara Sinclair - bsinclair@medicalmutual.com
Jessica Burnham - JVB@maine.rr.com

To continue to provide a safe graduation night party for our graduates, we need your help. We can’t do it without your support. Thank you!