For decades, Grad Night has been a constant tradition for graduates, ranging from fun and safe private parties to going to Disneyland and 6 Flags. Everyone knows that once they graduate, they can look forward to a fun and alcohol-free party with the people they’ve known for years.
GradNight.org and D23, explained that the first Grad Night party was held in Disneyland, 1961 before it grew popular in the 1980s. It was the largest graduation party ever in the U.S, 8,500 students attending, with numbers reaching 100,00 by the end of the decade. Over here at THS, it’s been around for over forty years, according to the Tigard Safe Grad Night website.
The main reason for starting Grad Night was the shared goal for all the caring people in the graduates’ lives: To limit the amount of deaths that occur during graduation season.
Based on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there’s been a 65 percent decrease in lives’ lost since 1973, seven years since the first recorded Grad Night.
“The single most dangerous night of a high school students’ life is grad night,” Steve Dekany, a project aide with a nonprofit group who helps put together Grad Nights, said.
According to 100 Deadliest Days, from Memorial to Labor day, graduates are 20 percent more likely to be killed, with over 30 percent of those deaths the cause of drunk driving.
To add to this, Mallard Perez, an injury trial attorney, states that the most teenage deaths occur from April to July, which is the U.S. graduating season. Also including that teens are at a higher risk to engage in drinking and driving on graduation night.
Adding on, THS’s Safe Grad Night explains that the reason they host Grad Night is so they can ensure that their students spend their graduation night in a safe and fun environment.
From a school perspective, the reasoning for helping to throw Grad Night and make a big deal out of graduation is because it’s fun and a huge turning point in peoples’ lives.
“[High school] graduation means, opening your doors in the future and having new pathways for me to explore,” Kenny Chan, senior, said.
Additionally, Kati Mckee, social science and graduation coordinator agrees that “…it is a fun and safe way for graduating seniors to have one last fling with their classmates in a safe setting that is free of drugs and alcohol.”
Tigard’s Safe Grad is organized by volunteers from the community, specifically parents, local residents, and THS alumni. The festivities are funded by donations from Tigard businesses and local fundraisers, like Bingo Nights or the Spring Auction, according to the Tigard Grad Night website.
According to Brenda Ayers, the Tigard Safe Grad Night president, Grad Night takes place right after THS’ graduation ceremony on Jun. 5. After May 15, prices jumped up to 150 dollars. If someone would like to purchase a ticket, they would have to complete the Graduation Party Waiver, then pay the registration fee, which covers food and drinks, prizes, games and more.