St. Mary’s County government will take over organizing Project Graduation, the all-night, substance-free celebration for graduating high school seniors, after the State’s Attorney’s Office notified the county it is stepping back from running the event.
Commissioner Eric Colvin announced the change during commissioner comments at the board’s Oct. 6 meeting. He said the county received an official letter the week before, following earlier informal phone conversations.
“The state’s attorney has been handling our Project Graduation in the county,” Colvin said, “and she’s officially turning that back over to the county to manage that or organize that.”
The State’s Attorney’s Office will stay involved, Colvin said. “She’s still going to be a partner in the process. Her office is still going to work with the county and all of the other volunteers.”
A 40-year tradition
According to the State’s Attorney’s Office’s Project Graduation page, the office started the event in 1984 to give graduates a safe way to celebrate. The night is free of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and vapes, and the page says the county has had no alcohol-related tragedy on graduation night since it began.
Seniors and their guests get free food, music and activities such as bowling, swimming, an escape room, an obstacle course, volleyball, movies and a gaming trailer. The page lists the event at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
The event depends on a long list of partners: the county’s high schools, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack, county government, rescue squads, the county Health Department, the county’s Optimist Clubs, the Navy and volunteers.
What comes next
Colvin said he has “the utmost confidence” that county staff and the “numerous community partners that really are what make that event a success every year” can keep it going. He floated the YMCA as a possible host site for the next one, though he said he was not sure how that would work.
“Hopefully we can keep that going and as strong as ever for Project Grad,” he said.
No date, location or budget for the next Project Graduation was discussed, and the board took no action on the change during commissioner comments.
