Grad Nite tickets on sale

If you're getting your high school diploma this month, the organizers of Grad Nite want you to celebrate at the annual alcohol-free graduation party at the Yuma County Fairgrounds.

If it's been years since you got your diploma, Grad Nite organizers still could use your help in putting on the shindig.

Tickets are on sale at $20 each at all the high schools for the 19th annual celebration that will take place from 10 p.m. May 30 to 5 the next morning at the fairgrounds.

Grad Nite was started to offer graduating seniors an alternative to parties with alcohol and the accompanying risks of drinking-related accidents.

This year's event will feature Guitar Hero and Dance Revolution music video games, an audience participation hypnotist show, games, rides and lip sync video booth where graduating seniors can tape their performances for posterity.

The party will include food, beverages plus door prizes such as DVD and MP3 players, televisions, video games and other electronics, and gift certificates. There will also be grand prize drawings for computers and Wii and X-Box video game systems.

But Grad Nite depends on community support. Teri Ingram and other event organizers are seeking volunteers who can work the party, as well as financial contributions to help pay the expenses. For more information about volunteering or making a donation, call Ingram at 726-5351.

Among those who help out at the event each year is the Yuma County Sheriff's Office, which assigns deputies to the event to ensure participants' safety. Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Eben Bratcher said YCSO is committed to Grad Nite because the event makes streets safer by giving graduates a safe option to partying with alcohol or going to bars in Mexico.

"We would encourage seniors to participate in this rather than go to parties, going to Mexico, getting drunk," said Bratcher, whose advice to seniors is: "Don't take risks you don't have to."

Seniors do not have to stay for the duration of the Grad Nite celebration, Bratcher said, but once they leave the fairgrounds, they are not allowed back in.

He can't point to any statistics showing that Grad Nite has resulted in a drop in teen drinking-related accidents, but says the event is a success simply because a large number of high school graduates choose to attend it rather than spend the night drinking.

This year's celebration is open not only to seniors from all high schools in Yuma County but those from San Pasqual High School in Winterhaven.

Seniors can take guests to Grad Nite. Those who buy their tickets before May 30 with receive a free Grad Nite T-shirt designed by Kofa senior Georgina Puentedura.

Tickets are available at Yuma, Kofa, Cibola, Yuma Catholic, San Pasqual and Antelope high schools, Vista School, Yuma Private Industry Council's Aztec charter high school and Carpe Diem Academy.