With just two weeks left before the big night, plans for Live
Oak Grad Night are in the final stages, and volunteers are
frantically putting the finishing touches on decorations.
With just two weeks left before the big night, plans for Live Oak Grad Night are in the final stages, and volunteers are frantically putting the finishing touches on decorations.
“We’re excited, it’s all coming together,” Grad Night Chair Janet Specht said Tuesday. “We have had the same outstanding support from some of our regular donors, but donations are always welcome.”
As well as individual donors, support from local companies helps the Live Oak Home & School Club and volunteers put on the event, which is designed to keep graduating seniors and their guests safe after graduation – safe, but having fun at the same time.
Grad Night is held the night of the Live Oak High graduation, which is June 13. The doors open at 10 p.m., and everyone must be in by 11 p.m. No one is allowed in or out (unless a parent gives permission for a student to leave) after 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next morning.
The theme of the party is, as usual, a secret. But Specht said there are plenty of activities she can talk about.
“This is an indoor/outdoor affair, with the indoors being inside the gym with a full casino, a DJ, a karoke guy and an activity room,” she said. “Outside, we have basketball and a bungee race. And of course, there’s lots and lots of food.”
The indoor activity room, Specht said, will offer a variety of things for students to do, from temporary tattoos, manicures, hair styling and face painting. Students can also play foosball, pingpong and Twister, as well as quieter board games.
A caricature artist will be strolling around during the evening, Specht said, drawing caricatures of students for them to keep.
A big part of the fun is the prizes that are available. Many of them are donated, Specht said, and the rest are purchased with the money raised. This year’s offerings include pieces of luggage, George Forman grills, gift certificates for restaurants, movie tickets, local retailers, and whatever is offered from the community.
“We try to focus the prizes on things students will need who are leaving home,” Specht said. “Things that will help them furnish a dorm room or apartment, or make life away from home a little easier are what we usually aim for.”
Donations from the community are down this year, however, the 18th year of Grad Night.
“I know the economic situation is difficult, and we are fortunate to have our regulars, the very loyal people who keep the event going year after year, like the Associated Concrete, Johnson Lumber Company and Cal Color Growers,” Specht said.
Tickets for the event are $65, with guest tickets for $100. Tickets are still available and will be available at the door. Sales were sluggish, Specht said, but she expected more students to buy as the date approaches.
“I have heard this is a procrastinating class,” she said. “I talked to the ASB (associated student body), and they said a week before the senior ball, they had only sold a few, but in that last week they sold almost 500.”
There were 450 tickets sold for last year’s Grad Night, with approximately 600 Live Oak seniors. This year, there are approximately 570 seniors at Live Oak and approximately 55 Central graduates.
“We have worked hard to make this year’s event a fun one, something to remember,” Specht said. “We would like to have all the graduates here, because the most important thing to us is to keep them safe, sober and accounted for.”
How to help: Janet Specht at 779-1339
