STIX and The Commissary were just two parties that worked to make a difference. The Commissary donated all the food for 647 seniors, and their choice of nachos. Pamela added, “Either way, got a gift card, and STIX Restaurant had given gift cards for all the seniors so they got that, also. They quickly learned that the two plan to be roommates at college and would be sharing the refrigerator, as the one boy shouted, “I’m his roommate! I’m his roommate!” One student won a really nice refrigerator, but those in the car behind him seemed more enthusiastic than he. Pamela shared a story of how two students celebrated one’s prize together. Some kids won fantastic prizes, like television sets and refrigerators. Parents, teachers, town officials, and others lined the sidewalk to cheer on each passing car. In one fell swoop, students dropped off their laptops, picked up their caps and gowns, received some gifts donated by local businesses, and through a random number drawing that each car was assigned upon arrived that morning. What would have normally been an overnight event of 300 or so kids transformed into a sunny, drive-by celebration of 647. But we were able to go to the big folks and get what we needed.
We had a lot of donations locally from local people, and we were able to still recognize them as our sponsors, our vendors, all that. We coordinated that with the drop-off of the senior’s laptops and the pick-up of their caps and gowns. He replied to my email and said ‘Hey, let’s get together and talk.” We wanted to do something for all the kids, so this Project Graduation adjusted.
They, the PTSO, and a group of senior moms then met to discuss how to celebrate the event. Jones soon responded to Pamela’s email with the request for a meeting. I don’t know what you’re planning on doing.’ I wasn’t sure if he knew how much was there. Jones an email and just reminded him, ‘Hey, I’ve got my donations sitting here for Project Graduation. It just dropped, and it was like, ‘Okay, what are we going to do? What’s going to happen?’ The following week, I sent Mr. The timing of the event’s cancellation meant that ticket sales and other forms of donations had already been gathered and accounted for, so CHS began to consider some alternatives. When the event was cancelled due to COVID-19, discussions stalled, until Pamela emailed Collierville High School’s principal, Roger Jones, about leftover funding. This year, for example, Collierville High School’s Project Graduation was supposed to feature a rock wall, bucking bull, obstacle courses, and more. The organization works alongside various sponsors and vendors to accommodate the night’s events. Under normal circumstances, Collierville High School’s Project Graduation usually takes place at the Town of Collierville’s community center from about ten at night until two in the morning. But that didn’t stop Pamela, CHS staff, parents, students, and Collierville from celebrating Collierville High School’s graduating class of 2020 on May 7, 2020. Every assumption quickly became a question, and even the most simple tasks became increasingly difficult to overcome. It’s completely donation-driven.” When school was cancelled for the rest of the year, the event not only changed, but did so dramatically.
“It was a big party after graduation to keep kids together, keep them centered, substance-free. “That’s where Project Graduation came from,” she explained. Project Graduation began as a grassroots event to combat high school seniors severely injuring themselves on the night of graduation. Pamela Watkins-Strietelmeier is the chairperson for Collierville High School’s Class of 2020 Project Graduation.