The Rolla Kiwanis Club is preparing to host its 24th Annual 2009 Rolla High School “Project Graduation” by signing up volunteers, selling tickets and raising funds to support the best graduation-party alternative available anywhere.

The party is slated for Friday, May 22, immediately after graduation, at Missouri S&T’s Bullman Recreation Center. The gates open for express check-in for advance ticket holders at 9:45 p.m., and admission begins at 10 p.m. and ends at 11:30 p.m. The party lasts all night and ends at 6 a.m.

Advance ticket sales are ongoing during lunch at the Rolla High School. Advance tickets are $7, which also gives students a double chance of winning prizes from a total prize package worth more than $3,000. Tickets cost $10 at the door. All food and drink is included.

Other prizes to be given away during the party include dorm like refrigerators, stereos, televisions, gas cards and other goodies. The prize patrol starts giving away free stuff at midnight, and each hour doubles the chance for prizes for seniors.

Events scheduled for Project Graduation include a mega obstacle course, live bands, midnight swimming, basketball tournament, all-night bowling, a DJ playing favorite songs and plenty of time for students to hang out with friends.

High-schoolers in grades nine through 12 this past academic year also are invited to the end-of-school party.

Kiwanian Bill Moorkamp said the odds are good for seniors who buy an advance ticket to double their chances for a prize.

Another tip from Moorkamp:

“Want to get the high-schoolers out of the house Friday and have them quietly sleeping all day Saturday? Buy them a ticket to Project Graduation,” Moorkamp said.

Instructions for attendees include bringing a bag with a towel and change of clothing for swimming.

In preparing for Project Graduation, Moorkamp said the Kiwanis is looking for “cool parents” who like pizza and watching great high-school kids in action.

The Kiwanis Club requires many kid-friendly, volunteer chaperones to ensure the all-night fun is safe. Three shifts are planned for volunteer chaperones: “Early” from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.; “Late” from 1:45 to 6 a.m.; and the “Clean-up” shift from 5:30 to 6 a.m.

Moorkamp said, because the party is planned on the Memorial Day weekend, chaperone recruitment is a bit of a challenge.

One of the fundraisers to support Project Graduation is the sale of designer street signs, which cost $15 each. Signs may be ordered through the Rolla High School Leadership Class or at Dr. Moorkamp’s office at 10th and Cedar streets. Once ordered, the signs typically take two weeks to be made.

All the proceeds from the sale of the signs go to help underwrite Project Graduation, Moorkamp said.

More information about Project Graduation may be obtained from Moorkamp at 364-7191 or Cathy Paulsmeyer at 364-6414.

For more information about purchasing a street sign, contact either Moorkamp at 364-7191 or Keith Stanek at 364-3312.