June 5, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
Students in the DCHS Class of 2020 have been disappointed in recent months due to the cancellation of so many of their senior year plans because of the COVID 19 pandemic but they had reason to celebrate Friday.
During a three hour WJLE radiothon which was also LIVE streamed on the DCHS Tigers facebook page, the community rallied in support of the class with pledges and donations totaling a record breaking $11, 609 for the 2020 Project Graduation event which will be held following the graduation ceremonies on Friday, June 19.
The support was overwhelming, not only exceeding the $10,000 goal but easily surpassing last year’s radiothon fundraiser of $8,100, which had also set a new record up until that time.
The radiothon was hosted by DCHS Teacher Chris Vance and many members of the class and their parents took part in the program either on air or from behind the scenes. A special thanks to Jordan Atnip and Daniel Leslie who set up the LIVE facebook streaming broadcast from the WJLE Studios which was telecast on the DCHS Tigers facebook page and shared by others.
To add extra fun and excitement, members of the class agreed to gulp down a few spoonfuls of baby food and dog chow to meet the challenge from some callers in order to up the ante. One student even ate a banana with a stocking covering his head.
Michiko Martin and Shea Colwell, co-chairs of the Project Graduation Committee, said they could not have been more pleased with the outcome of the radiothon.
“We are pleased the kids are going to have something nice, safe, and something they can remember and enjoy with their friends for one last time as a class. We appreciate WJLE for allowing us to come in here and do this. We also want to thank Mr. Vance and the youth pastors from around town and so many others. It is a community thing and we are so thankful to everyone that has made this possible,” said Martin.
Project Graduation is an all night drug-free, alcohol-free graduation party for members of the DCHS Class of 2020 committed to having a safe, wholesome, yet entertaining celebration together for the last time as a class. This year’s event will be held at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center.
“ We will have all kinds of games including volleyball, cornhole, karaoke and more with chances for them to win money and take home something,” said Colwell.
“Our administrators and the teachers at the school have also gone above and beyond to help our students to have a great year as much as possible and to carry on with the prom, graduation, and project graduation,” added Colwell.
You can still make donations to the DCHS Class of 2020 Project Graduation event by dropping off a check to either Cindy Washer at First Bank in Smithville or to Michiko Martin at the Family Medical Center.
A special thanks for the generous donations of First Bank ($2,000), Liberty State Bank ($1,000) and Wilson Bank and Trust ($1,000) and to all others who supported the radiothon.
The commencement for the DCHS Class of 2020 will be Friday, June 19 at 8 p.m. on the high school football field. The prom is set for Friday, June 12 at 8 p.m. at Twisted Oaks in Smithville.