BUCKHANNON – Seniors at Buckhannon-Upshur High School will soon be graduating and moving on to the next step of their lives.

And whether that is moving on to college or a trade school, entering their careers or serving their country in one of the branches of the Armed Forces, the purpose of Project Graduation is to ensure they deserve to have one big ‘hurrah’ before moving on in their journey.

Once again, seniors will gather for the Project Graduation, which provides the Buckhannon-Upshur High School Class of 2021 with an opportunity to spend one last time together before taking their own individual steps into the next chapter of their book. Organizers of the event said in addition to this last bonding moment, Project Graduation provides peace of mind by helping ensure students will be safe on the night of graduation.

“For all that attend Project Graduation, there will be endless food, activities and an abundance of prizes,” Project Graduation Secretary Mimi Riffle said. “At the end of the night, each student will walk away with at least one prize, a full belly and a lasting memory.”

Another great element of Project Graduation is there will be one lucky winner of a grand prize at the end of the evening, and everyone is able to pitch in to make this event happen by purchasing tickets for the B-UHS Project Graduation Class of 2021 Elimination Dinner.

Riffle said the Elimination Dinner is scheduled for Saturday, April 24.

“Typically, this would be held at a location where people come and eat dinner,” Riffle said, “but due to COVID, we cannot do it that way, so we are going to host a ‘virtual’ elimination dinner.”

She said anyone interested may buy tickets online at https://form.jotform.com/210305478386155 or can email projectgraduationBUHS@gmail.com for additional information. Tickets are available for purchase from Mimi Riffle, Keely Burnside, Joan Samargo, Amy Queen, Tahsha Carpenter, Dr. Tammy Samples or any B-UHS senior parent.

“Each ticket purchase is a donation of $25,” Riffle said. “That provides a meal, and it includes a choice of BBQ chicken or brisket. Then, on April 24 from 2 to 6 p.m., we will offer dinner pick-up which will be at the B-UHS Front Loop.”

While folks are picking up their meal, they may purchase chances for a giveaway drawing. The tickets for that are $1 each or six for $5. Prizes include an adult goodies basket, a personalized West Virginia Lawn rock, a personalized deer head lawn rock, a Neil Brown autographed West Virginia football, a germ-busting tote and a ‘manly man’ basket, which includes a tree stand.

Riffle said there will be tickets available to purchase for $5 each or five tickets for $20. The prizes in that drawing include a choice of a $350 gift certificate to Rice’s County Cabins or a Ruger 10/22 Special Edition Rifle.

From 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, folks can watch a livestream of the elimination drawing on the Elimination Dinner event page on Facebook where winners of the raffles and giveaway will be announced. The grand prize winner of the B-UHS Project Graduation Class of 2021 Elimination Dinner will win $1,000 – or if the prize winners select to split the prize, the last two winners will each receive $500.

“All of the prizes for the raffle have been donated to us to help us raise money for Project Graduation,” Riffle said. “People can also purchase tickets when picking up their meal for a 50/50 drawing.”

Riffle said anyone who has questions or wants tickets can contact her at 304-940-5550.

“We hope to sell 300 total tickets,” Riffle said. “Be sure to purchase these tickets as soon as possible. We hope to sell most of the tickets by the weekend of Saturday, April 17, 2021.”

Riffle said everyone feels this is a very important event this year due to COVID-related struggles.

“We really want to support these seniors who have struggled this year with not having a typical, traditional senior year,” Riffle said. “They lost out on things last spring as well, and we just want to give the students a big end of year celebration to say, ‘Let’s make some memories with your friends before you go on to college, the military and your jobs.’ We want to provide them with what they deserve.”

Project Graduation will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. following B-UHS Graduation May 21, 2021.