Four Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) seniors received Chapelboro’s Hometown Heroes award of the Week, 97.9 The Hill, in April for their work in leading Project Graduation, a safe alcohol and substance-free graduation party for graduating seniors in the school district.
Project Graduation 2024 will take place on June 15 at UNC’s Student Union. All graduating seniors from the CHCCS district are allowed to attend this free, safe late-night graduation party.
Abigail and Zoe Falk, seniors of East Chapel Hill High School, Lula Caress, a senior at Chapel Hill High School, and Natalie Beisser, a senior at Carrboro High School—all of whom are co-chairs for Project Graduation—received the honor earlier this month.
They came together to lead Project Graduation for very different reasons.
Beisser was inspired to help with Project Graduation after hearing so many great things from previous seniors who attended it. She also thought it would be the “perfect way to meet new people and help out in the community.”
Zoe Falk joined the Project Graduation committee to provide a safe party for all seniors to enjoy. “I feel passionate about keeping seniors safe on graduation night, [especially] off of the roads with possible drunk drivers,” she said.
Student Co-Chair and senior at Chapel Hill High School Lula Caress shared that sentiment. “I believe every high school student deserves to have an awesome graduation night,” she said. “[I hope that] Project Graduation works to be super inclusive by being completely free for all students.”
With their job as co-chairs, the four seniors are in charge of planning, fundraising and spreading awareness about the event.
In the midst of their promotion, the four seniors received Chapelboro’s Hometown Heroes of the week award from the local radio station WCHL. Like the rest of her co-chairs, Abigail Falk was honored to receive this recognition, particularly because it helped to “get the word out about Project Graduation and make it the best party it can be!”
Amie Heiss, one of the parent co-chairs and parent representative of Chapel Hill High School, expressed gratitude to WCHL for its support on Project Graduation.
“[WCHL has] aired the interview a few times,” she said. “We are hoping it will generate increased interest in the district-wide party for all graduating seniors!”
Fundraiser Chair Tina CoyneSmith also expressed her excitement towards the student co-chairs for their “well-deserved recognition.”
Beisser also could not contain her excitement for this recognition.
“I want to make sure that Project Graduation is something that every senior can experience with their friends!” she said.
Senior Sylvie Smith said she is excited to attend Project Graduation and is thankful for having the opportunity to attend a safe event like this.
“I am very excited for Project Graduation this year, and I think everyone else should be too,” Smith said.
