In a celebration of its 2025 seniors, and perhaps beyond, officials with Christian County Public Schools announced Wednesday the return of traditional “Project Graduation” — a popular, safe post-party for students, family and faculty.
This year’s even will reportedly be held in collaboration with Christian County High School, Hopkinsville High School, Heritage Christian Academy and University Heights Academy, and is tentatively scheduled for Friday, May 23, at the Planters Bank-Jennie Stuart Health Sportsplex in Hopkinsville.
Bringing together friendships and fellowships from both the private and public settings, Superintendent Chris Bentzel said conversations with students and parents led to this decision — in what is a beloved community-supported event for years. He also noted they are “excited” to revitalize and enhance the event, ensuring it is “better than ever” for all graduates of Christian County.
For more than 30 years, “Project Graduation” has been tradition — but the event was canceled in 2020, and adjustments were made in 2021 to address social distancing requirements for COVID-19.
Subsequent years, however, saw a decrease in both student and parent participation, and officials believe that by restoring the event to a more traditional format, there will be a renewed interest among students, which will create engagement and better parent participation.
Mindy Hargrove, now a board member for Trigg County Public Schools and a long-time Christian County restaurateur, recently remarked at a Wildcats Board of Education meeting that “Project Graduation” interest had dwindled among parents in south western Kentucky — but particularly Hopkinsville — making it more difficult to bring together a cohesive, warm and celebratory atmosphere for students.
Priscilla Kirby and Whitney Aldridge have been appointed as co-coordinators for the event, and the first parent interest meeting is schedule for 5:30 PM Monday, March 3, at the Christian County High School Media Center. Parents of seniors from all local area high schools, as well as community members interested in supporting Project Graduation, are encouraged to attend.
Donations are welcome to help make the event a success, and a special “Project Graduation” account has been established, and monetary contributions can be sent to: Christian County Project Graduation, PO Box 291, Hopkinsville, KY, 42241.
For more information or to donate items, please contact Kirby at priscilla.kirby@christian.kyschools.us.
“Project Graduation,” as well as other similar non-alcohol graduation night programs, stems from an idea that first originated in 1980, when families of the Oxford Hills area of Maine coalesced behind support from a state initiative that actually started in 1978 as the “Alcohol, Other Drugs and Highway Safety Prevention/Intervention Program” through Maine’s Department of Education and Division of Alcohol and Drug Education Services.
