Viewfinder: Project Graduation Underway Tonight, Estimated to Get More Than 300 Graduates Off Streets

Out of about 370 high school seniors that have graduated this week, about 300 are participating in Friday night's Project Graduation — a program aimed at reducing teen drinking and driving on what some call the most dangerous night of the year — the last day of high school.

"It's one night out of the year that we can take kids away from drugs and alcohol, and possibly save their life by preventing them from getting in a vehicle accident," said John Dell'Osso, who was recently appointed to the Cotati City Council and is also the president of Project Grad.

"They realize they don't need to drink and do drugs to have fun," he said.

Over the last few months, Janice Brown has been building extravagant decorations for the night — this year's theme is "Oh the places you'll go" — a pun on the Dr. Seuess book that's meant to signify where graduates will go in life.

Rohnert Park Patch recently got a look inside the Callinan Sports and Fitness Center, where Project Grad is being held. There, the gym is adorned with European and Bay Area icons — the Eiffel Tower, Coit Tower and the Palace of Fine Arts, just to name a few. And, they're all handmade by volunteers. 

"We want to inspire them, and keep them safe," Brown said.

Project Grad costs kids $50 a night, and the entire program costs about $35,000. This year, graduates get to partake in events such as gambling at a Las Vegas style casino, a makeover room and a mock wedding chapel, where Brown will perform weddings that last till 5 a.m., when the kids are released.

"We ask them trivia questions, and since this is California, we marry girls and boys, girls and girls and boys and boys; even groups," Brown said.

The idea is to participate in events and play games throughout the night to win prizes that are geared towards life after high school, such as toaster ovens, microwaves, coffee pots and grills.

"We know that this is the most dangerous night of the year high school students, and we do our best to encourage 100 percent participation and let the kids have fun while being safe at the same time," Brown said.

Since 1989, over 90,000 kids in Sonoma County have participated in the event. In Rohnert Park, not one has lost his or her life since the program's inception, according to organizers.