By Suzanne Hodgson

Staff Writer

Graduating Kennebunk High School seniors will get one last chance to ride a big yellow school bus after graduation. 

As they are every year, seniors will be whisked away after the June 6 graduation ceremony for one last 24 hours as a class for whitewater rafting, fishing and hiking in Millinocket.

“The trip is so they can enjoy one last moment of being seniors and do it without drugs or alcohol,” said Cheryl Price, parent and Project Graduation Committee member.

Sharon Philbrick, another committee member, was initially hesitant to give out the once-secret location.

Students usually receive a list of items to pack for the trip, but no location. Sometimes organizers even put items on the list to throw students off the trail.

This year students know the location before being dropped off.

Because of the outdoor, daytime adventure, students will be gone for 24 hours instead of 12, stay overnight on Sunday and return Monday evening. Organizers sent home forms disclosing the location. And for those who didn’t return the permission slips, committee members called their homes to make sure they weren’t going.

Price said most of the students who don’t go on the trip have to work or have family from far away visiting for graduation.

Project Graduation began 30 years ago after fatalities in Oxford Hill that resulted from alcohol and drug use, said Philbrick said. Now many schools in the state organize supervised overnight stays around graduation, she said.

Even though students aren’t forced to participate, most years 80 to 90 percent of student attend Project Graduation, Price said.

 “That is the main purpose, to keep students safe,” Price said. “The second is to make sure they have a real, fun memory.”

To cut down on contraband, all bags are checked before students leave and no student goes home after the ceremony.

This year’s trip has 17 chaperones, including two off-duty police officers to watch the 200 students attending from year’s graduating class of 214 students, although Price and Philbrick won’t be on the adventure. Price said many parents had to get permission from their children to be allowed to attend the class trip.  

“I decided my time was best invested in planning,” Philbrick said.

Planning for Project Graduation starts freshman year, but fundraising kicks into gear during junior year when proceeds from prom go toward the trip.

During senior year, students raise money in other ways, including a senior auction that raised $12,400 this year, a cabaret night when students provided entertainment and waitservice and Mr. Kennebunk High School, a beauty pageant for boys.

This year Philbrick said Mr. Kennebunk High School had about 13 contestants, more than most years.

“That was highly entertaining,” Price said.

Seniors this year had an extra boost by writing and performing a pirate musical that sold out both shows.

Local businesses and parents also donated. This year  students raised more than $30,000, with no help from the school budget, giving organizers a budget of approximately $150 per student.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.