Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools’ annual Project Graduation takes place this weekend, which gives graduating seniors an event to celebrate free of alcohol and drugs.

This will be the 27th Project Graduation, and Chapel Hill High senior and organizer Jesse Kim says the event takes nearly all year to plan.

“It’s the annual drug-and-alcohol-free celebration for the graduated seniors of the district,” says Kim. “It includes music, food, games, a casino, prizes, performances, and it’s free for all, which is really amazing.”

Project Graduation is not unique to Chapel Hill, as many school districts across the country offer students safe, substance-free post-graduation parties.

According to Kim and her fellow organizers, over 200 volunteers will be working to run the event.

“I think it’s just really amazing that it’s all volunteer based,” says Kim. “All of the chairs, all of the committees are all volunteer based, so really we need the help of the community. It’s all about the parents stepping up, the kids stepping up.”

Project Graduation takes place on Saturday, June 15 from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. at UNC’s Student Union.

Donations can be made and more information found at projectgraduationchccs.org.

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