Did you know Project Graduation was born right here in Maine? In 1980, Oxford Hills High School launched the very first event to provide graduating seniors with a safe, organized, adult-supervised, and chemical-free celebration—and that same spirit continues today at Kennebunk High School.
It is a night historically known for poor decisions, so as a community, we are collectively working to keep everyone a little safer. Each year, an amazing team of educators and parents works together to give our seniors a night to remember, and it’s all made possible by the generous support of our community.
Project Graduation (often called “Project Grad”) began at Oxford Hills High School in Maine in 1980 following a tragic car accident. The program was created to provide graduating seniors with a fun, memorable, and safe graduation-night experience on a night that has historically been associated with poor decision-making.
At KHS, Project Graduation is organized by a small group of parent volunteers along with the Class Advisor(s). All parents are welcome to join the planning committee—we typically begin meeting in late spring.
Together, we plan an inclusive and exciting celebration designed to appeal to the entire graduating class. The details of the event are kept a surprise until students board the buses after graduation, which adds to the excitement.
Past experiences have included:
The event usually begins around 5:00 PM and concludes with our return to KHS at approximately 6:00 AM the following morning.
The event is open to all KHS graduating seniors, and we truly hope every student will attend.
Encourage them to talk with their friends, counselor, or a teacher to get a sense of whether this is something they’d enjoy. While it is a long night, KHS typically sees about 90% class participation, which speaks to how positive and meaningful the experience is for most students.
The average cost is approximately $225 per student.
This reflects the reality that not every venue can accommodate 150 students at once, and many of the places we use remain open after normal business hours, which increases costs.
To secure the best venues and pricing—and avoid being shut out of desirable options—we need to book locations in the summer/early fall. Reserving these spaces requires large deposits for items such as buses, venues, and meals.
It’s important to remember that nearly every high school in New England hosts a Grad Night, so we are competing with many other schools to lock in venues. Waiting until the spring before graduation typically means fewer options and potentially higher costs.
Liability and safety considerations make this unrealistic. Even a casual event still requires transportation, food, insurance, supervision, and secured locations. Project Graduation’s structure ensures a controlled, safe environment throughout the night.
Sponsor your business with us! It starts at $250 (Tax Deductible)
Our demographics represents an ideal audience for real estate agents, mortgage brokers, financial planners, and tax consultants, as major investment and planning decisions often align with the high school graduation years and frequently intersect with both aging parents and adult children.
We are also a highly targeted audience for empty-nester lifestyle services, including travel, home re-decorating, and entertaining—making businesses such as travel agencies, designers, and even dog walkers a natural fit. Additionally, our demographics frequently engage with florists, event venues, and restaurants as we reach milestone moments like weddings, graduations, and retirement celebrations.
And yes—our demographic is also right on time for oral surgeons (hello, wisdom teeth!) and joint, knee, and back pain specialists (hello, aging process!).
📧 Interested in volunteering or joining the planning team? Contact Don Weafer at [email protected].
Help your class win the fundraising challenge! Copy the message below and text it to 5 family members or friends.
1. Venmo: @KHSProjectGrad
Please include Class of ’27 and your student’s name in the memo.
2. Check: Drop off at the KHS front office or mail (payable to KHS Project Graduation) to:
Emilie Cornell, Advisor for Class of 2027