Low Student Interest Forces Cancellation of Grad Nite Event

Thursday, May 28, 2009

The Collings Teen Center has announced the cancellation of its annual "Grad Nite" event for graduation seniors of River City High School, owing to indications of low student interest. The teen center had staged the event for the five previous years, with help from the city and various corporate sponsors.

John Jordan, the center's executive director, said the difficult decision was reached after only six total tickets had been sold barely two weeks prior to the June 6 event. Tickets were $25 each, and full scholarships had been offered to those exhibiting hardship.

"It was a very difficult decision, because a safe and sober grad-night alternative is something we really believe in," said Jordan. "We had a great party all ready to go – food, volunteers, prizes, mechanical bulls, you name it. But it doesn't work without the kids, and we were looking at a very small crowd."

Some students put together a late petition asking to re-instate the event. But Jordan said the interest simply came too late to allow the center to re-engage its previous commitments with vendors.