Organizers Add New Twist to EHS Senior Party

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It's not all fun and games this year.

seniors will get the opportunity to help a handful of local nonprofit organizations this year during the high school's senior party on June 2.

The new initiative, called Wildcat CARE, is an addition to the tableau of dancing, inflatable games and contests that is the high school's annual send-off for graduating students.

As part of Wildcats CARE, senior party attendees can choose to spend part of their night participating in one of two separate volunteer projects. The projects include packing 500 snack bags for the Eagan and Lakeville Resource Centers and the Ronald McDonald House or writing letters to service members stationed overseas through Operation Gratitude.

Wildcats CARE is the brainchild of senior party committee members Sarah Wagner, Kari Mueller and Sue Bjorklund, who were inspired by similar volunteer efforts happening at other schools in the area, Wagner said. The group got feedback from those other schools, then got involved with several nonprofits.

Already this year, students donated more than 100 boxes of cereal to the Eagan and Lakeville Resource Centers as part of a "Cereal Superbowl", Wagner said. The superbowl, she added, was a prelude of sorts to the Wildcats CARE project.

Wagner and Senior Party Committee Chair Troy VanDyke hope the inititiave will foster a sense of community engagement among departing students and leave a mark on nonprofit organizations.

If Wildcats CARE is successful, Wagner may consider continuing or expanding the program at next year's senior party.

"I think the kids will be open to doing something a little different at the party," Wagner said. "We just thought it would be fun to try out."

“I really hope they walk away feeling that much better about their years at Eagan High School and that they were able to give back," VanDyke said. "Maybe it will help them think a little outside of themselves, too."

ABOUT THE SENIOR PARTY:

The Senior Party is a safe, fun and substance-free graduation celebration for seniors held on graduation night, June 2, 2012 from 10pm to 5am at Eagan High School. The event provides a free alternative to graduation night partying and is well supported by the Eagan families and community.