Odessa Project Graduation 2025 offers seniors fun without risk
NewsWest 9
[{'start': '0.240', 'end': '4.240', 'text': 'Well, as graduation season approaches, a'}, {'start': '2.800', 'end': '6.720', 'text': 'group of dedicated parents and'}, {'start': '4.240', 'end': '8.800', 'text': 'volunteers are working behind the scenes'}, {'start': '6.720', 'end': '11.599', 'text': "to make sure the celebration doesn't"}, {'start': '8.800', 'end': '14.000', 'text': 'turn into a tragedy. Sydney Jolly shares'}, {'start': '11.599', 'end': '16.560', 'text': 'how Project Graduation at Odessa High'}, {'start': '14.000', 'end': '18.240', 'text': 'School is offering a safer alternative.'}, {'start': '16.560', 'end': '20.480', 'text': "Sydney, that's right, Crystal."}, {'start': '18.240', 'end': '22.800', 'text': 'Volunteers are working overtime to plan'}, {'start': '20.480', 'end': '25.119', 'text': 'an allnight party that keeps kids'}, {'start': '22.800', 'end': '27.039', 'text': 'entertained and out of trouble. I spoke'}, {'start': '25.119', 'end': '29.199', 'text': 'with some of the moms behind the effort'}, {'start': '27.039', 'end': '33.640', 'text': 'to find out why this tradition means so'}, {'start': '29.199', 'end': '33.640', 'text': 'much to them and their community.'}, {'start': '34.000', 'end': '39.360', 'text': 'Meet the women behind Odessa High'}, {'start': '35.920', 'end': '43.160', 'text': "School's Project Graduation 2025."}, {'start': '39.360', 'end': '46.480', 'text': 'Candace Montenez, Allison Baragon, and'}, {'start': '43.160', 'end': '49.200', 'text': 'Yasmin all work for OS. But for Candace'}, {'start': '46.480', 'end': '50.800', 'text': "and Yasmin, it's personal. being able to"}, {'start': '49.200', 'end': '52.320', 'text': 'work here with my daughter as well as be'}, {'start': '50.800', 'end': '54.320', 'text': 'with her after her graduation knowing'}, {'start': '52.320', 'end': '56.480', 'text': "she's in a safe, fun space with her"}, {'start': '54.320', 'end': '58.559', 'text': 'friends. So, it does mean a lot. Yasmin'}, {'start': '56.480', 'end': '60.719', 'text': 'is celebrating with her second graduate'}, {'start': '58.559', 'end': '63.760', 'text': 'as she missed the opportunity with her'}, {'start': '60.719', 'end': '66.080', 'text': "first son. I'm excited to be there, you"}, {'start': '63.760', 'end': '69.040', 'text': 'know, at his graduation and the after'}, {'start': '66.080', 'end': '71.760', 'text': "party. I know he'll be he'll be safe."}, {'start': '69.040', 'end': '73.960', 'text': 'Safety is the key reason this parentled'}, {'start': '71.760', 'end': '75.920', 'text': 'committee is pushing so hard. The'}, {'start': '73.960', 'end': '78.400', 'text': 'alternative comes with real'}, {'start': '75.920', 'end': '81.920', 'text': 'consequences. There has been, you know,'}, {'start': '78.400', 'end': '83.439', 'text': 'accidents that involve drugs and alcohol'}, {'start': '81.920', 'end': '85.200', 'text': 'for both schools. And so that is'}, {'start': '83.439', 'end': '87.680', 'text': 'something we do try to encourage them to'}, {'start': '85.200', 'end': '89.159', 'text': "avoid. It's not worth it. The party is"}, {'start': '87.680', 'end': '91.600', 'text': 'not worth it.'}, {'start': '89.159', 'end': '94.000', 'text': 'Um, just be careful. To boost'}, {'start': '91.600', 'end': '96.159', 'text': 'participation in Project Graduation this'}, {'start': '94.000', 'end': '98.560', 'text': "year. There's also been a location"}, {'start': '96.159', 'end': '101.520', 'text': 'change this year. All the fund takes'}, {'start': '98.560', 'end': '103.600', 'text': 'place at Urban Air in Music City Mall.'}, {'start': '101.520', 'end': '106.000', 'text': 'work started a little late and the'}, {'start': '103.600', 'end': '108.479', 'text': 'effort is all donationbased, but the'}, {'start': '106.000', 'end': '110.640', 'text': 'committee says the Odessa community has'}, {'start': '108.479', 'end': '112.799', 'text': "truly stepped up. We've been raising"}, {'start': '110.640', 'end': '114.560', 'text': "funds. Um, we've got enough funds now to"}, {'start': '112.799', 'end': '117.520', 'text': 'cover our venue, which is exciting.'}, {'start': '114.560', 'end': '119.040', 'text': "We're very glad about that. So, we are"}, {'start': '117.520', 'end': '120.240', 'text': 'now in the process of trying to raise'}, {'start': '119.040', 'end': '122.000', 'text': 'the rest of the funds for like the'}, {'start': '120.240', 'end': '123.840', 'text': 'prizes and maybe leave a little for next'}, {'start': '122.000', 'end': '126.479', 'text': "year. For the committee, it's about"}, {'start': '123.840', 'end': '128.000', 'text': 'giving kids a night to remember for all'}, {'start': '126.479', 'end': '130.959', 'text': "the right reasons. They've been in"}, {'start': '128.000', 'end': '132.879', 'text': "school for 13 years and it's a it's a"}, {'start': '130.959', 'end': '135.760', 'text': 'big deal. Some of these kids fought'}, {'start': '132.879', 'end': '137.360', 'text': 'really hard even just to graduate and I'}, {'start': '135.760', 'end': '139.280', 'text': 'think to be able to celebrate and'}, {'start': '137.360', 'end': '141.920', 'text': 'celebrate with them in a safe space is'}, {'start': '139.280', 'end': '144.000', 'text': 'really important and exciting.'}, {'start': '141.920', 'end': '146.160', 'text': 'The committee says every dollar in'}, {'start': '144.000', 'end': '148.160', 'text': 'volunteer hour makes a difference. If'}, {'start': '146.160', 'end': '150.319', 'text': "you'd like to help to give these grads a"}, {'start': '148.160', 'end': '152.560', 'text': 'safe, memorable night, you can find more'}, {'start': '150.319', 'end': '156.640', 'text': 'information on our website, our 9 plus'}, {'start': '152.560', 'end': '156.640', 'text': 'app, or contact the Odessa High front'}]