 | | KEVIN GABOURY/CENTRAL OREGONIAN | | Members of Crook County High School's 100th graduating class are preparing for all the activities related to the big event. Pictured here are (from left to right) Corinne Flanary, JoBeth Hamon, Paul Robideau, David Reeher, Tyler McCormick, Ashley Barnes, and Rachael Grier |
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By Kevin Gaboury
Crook County High School seniors are gearing up for graduation and this year they have something extra to celebrate: they are the 100th senior class passing through the doors of CCHS.
The parents also have big plans for the graduates, specifically an all-night, alcohol-free party right after graduation. But to make this a reality, they need the community's help.
To raise funds for the party, the senior parents committee will be holding their annual tri-tip barbecue dinner and auction at Carey Foster Hall on May 3.
There will be a variety of items up for bidding, including gift certificates and other items from local businesses, and anything else donated by the community.
Whatever businesses will donate, basically," said Chris McMurrian, secretary for the senior parents committee. "We'll be doing a silent auction for the smaller items, and if we have enough larger items, we'll do a verbal auction as well."
The parents are also hoping for entertainment at the event.
"We're trying to arrange for some kind of music to be played during the event," McMurrian said. "If there are any bands that want to volunteer to play for an hour or two, that would be great."
In previous years, the parents have put on a raffle with help from the Elks Club. But due to stricter state laws concerning tax exempt organizations, it won't happen this year, according to McMurrian.
"It would have been too much of a hassle for them to try and do one for us, and we didn't have the funding and time to set it up and do it ourselves," she said.
Ideally, the parents want to raise around $5,000 for the party, which will occur in the high school commons directly after graduation on June 6 and feature a multitude of activities for the graduates.
"We have entertainment lined up, like a mechanical bull, a Velcro wall, sumo suits, Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero. We're going to have ping-pong tables and do a big ping-pong tournament. We have some poker and blackjack tables and we're having parents as dealers. There won't be any money involved though," McMurrian said of the party. "We'll also have door prizes and gift baskets for each of the seniors to take home."
The seniors are getting jubilant as their time at CCHS winds down and many feel privileged to be a part of the 100th graduating class.
"I'm excited to be graduating from the high school where members of my family had also gone," CCHS senior Rachael Grier said.
Senior JoBeth Hamon feels likewise.
"I'm the second person to graduate from CCHS in my family," she said.
Paul Robideau, also a senior, is equally enthusiastic.
"This is one of the best classes to ever come through CCHS," he said.
Dinner/auction fundraiser
Support the CCHS senior class by attending the tri-tip dinner/auction at Carey Foster Hall on May 3. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. and the auction kicks off at 7:30. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased at Fair Feed, Crook County Properties, CCHS, and at the door to the event.
Anyone willing to donate items for the auction is welcome to contact Mike Warren Jr. at Crook County Properties, 447-3020. For cash donations, contact Chris McMurrian at 447-3910. |
