This month high school seniors all across the country will be celebrating commencement with all-night, alcohol-free “Project Graduation” parties organized and run by parents. These post-graduation parties sprung up in the 1980’s as an alternative to the riskier student-led celebrations that too frequently resulted in alcohol related tragedies. The goal of Project Graduation is simply to keep kids safe while celebrating, as a class, this socially significant right of passage. Over the years, Project Graduation events have grown from modest parties to elaborate affairs including taking over Dave and Busters, Malls or Podium Raceway, sunset cruises, and even quick trips to Disneyland. Project Graduation committees typically fundraiser for years, to spend tens of thousands of dollars for the one night blowout party. But this year, at ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY, students have opted for an event that will be remembered by their community, instead of just themselves.
At ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY we are intentional in our approach to education both academically and morally. Students are molded by values that matter and the Class of 2016 has epitomized that statement by their Project Grad activities on Friday, May 20th, immediately following their Commencement ceremony, at Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute in Ko Olina. According to Pam Pangelinan, a parent serving on the 2016 Project Grad Committee, “students just weren’t signing up because they didn’t want to spend all that money on themselves. They wanted to be together and have fun, but they also wanted to make a difference in their community.” This prompted the committee to come up with a compromise, promising the students that they would be proud to be apart of this year’s event and that helping others would be a major theme during the night. So the IPA parent committee took a survey of the senior’s favorite charitable activities and organizations, and the results were compiled and ranked into categories. The challenge for these parents was now finding fun ways to honor both the milestone of the student’s academic success and the IPA student’s desire to leave an ongoing legacy in their community.
Hannah Button (IPA ’18), spearheaded raising even more money in honor of her brother Jackson, and the 38 other members of IPA’s graduating class. She came up with the slogan: “IPA Gives Back,” rallying family and school friends to write letters to local companies, soliciting donations for the top charities on the Class of 2016 list. So far, the IPA Project Graduation 2016 will leave their community with a legacy of nearly $7,000 in donations. According to Hannah, “being kind to others and involved in our community is part of the DNA at Island Pacific Academy. The Class of 2016 has been a great example of that and I hope that ‘IPA Gives Back’ is part of every Project Grad.”
With the student survey as a guide, the committee began exploring ways to help meet the needs of the Hawaii’s homeless and food insecure population. In the last two years alone, IPA has collected nearly 20,000 pounds of food for The Hawaii Food Bank. So, their first stop in this all-night affair was Kapolei Target where they participated in a scavenger hunt, of sorts. Teams of eight newly-graduated students had 30 minutes to spend $300 for items on a “wish list” that include canned food, blankets, flashlights, first aid supplies and other greatly needed items. The team that got closest without going over received bragging rights, and gift cards donated by Target. All of the supplies were donated to the Mualoa Food Bank, located at Sunset Beach Christian Church.
Dream of a Better World, a non-profit organization founded by students of ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY, is near the top of the Class of 2016’s favorite charities. In this case, however, they are not receiving, but joining in IPA’s efforts by providing matching funds. Some of the other recipients of IPA Gives Back funds this year include: The Waianae Mountains Watershed Partnership ($1,000), The Oahu SPCA ($1,000), Fisher House at Tripler Hospital ($1,000) and the Art and PE programs at ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY.
Michelle Bradley, IPA’s Science Department Chairperson, was recently named Chevron’s 2016 Hawaii Science Fair Teacher of the Year. She has taught most of these seniors and has been a huge supporter of the environmentally oriented IPA volunteer projects. “I was thrilled, but not surprised that the IPA seniors wanted their Project Grad to be a living legacy for our community. They are bright, thoughtful and action-oriented, and have been great role models for all of our students.” To complete this part of IPA Gives Back, in the fall, Ms. Bradley will be leading a group of IPA student volunteers to clear land and plant (39) native species in honor of the (39) graduates of the Class of 2016 at the Waianae Mountains Watershed. IPA’s Class of 2016 will have left them the both the tools and the inspiration to do the work.
The Oahu SPCA will receive $1,000 and a large basket of pet supplies. Fisher House at Tripler Hospital will receive $1,000, a TV and furniture for the sick and injured soldiers and veterans who are residents there.
IPA Gives Back is also giving $2,000 in matching gifts to Kahuku High School, to assist some of their students with travel expenses to the National Science Competition in Tennessee this summer Kendra Martyn, science teacher and science fair mentor for Kahuku High School, was nearly in disbelief when contacted by IPA’s representative offering monetary assistance. “Many of these Kahuku students have never been off the island, and they have been working extremely hard to raise funds for this valuable experience. I am deeply moved that students from across the island would join in our effort in such a big way. “
Project Graduation is a wonderful way for newly minted graduates to celebrate their success in a memorable, fun and safe setting. Many of these students, who have bonded together over many years IPA, will be leaving home for colleges and universities across the country. They may lose touch for some time as new adventures keep them moving forward in life. But when these alumni pause to remember their Project Grad night, they will remember having fun the old fashion way, filled with a variety of fun games and activities and making a huge impact on the charities they have supported over the years.
The ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY Class of 2016 have indeed started a tradition that we hope will inspire our future graduating classes and graduating classes across the state and nation, to give back to their communities and to others who may be less fortunate. Their efforts even caught the attention of local media with an article written by Lee Cataluna in The Honolulu Star Advertiser. The Class of 2016 have made the ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY staff and faculty proud to have had a small part in educating them and molding them with values that matter. We wish them the very best in their future endeavors and look forward to hearing how they will continue to make a difference in the lives of others
Follow their journey at www.ipagivesback.org
“Imua Me Ka Ha’aheo”
After a quick debriefing of rules at Target, all teams quickly split up and began their scavenger hunt for the Mualoa Food Bank in Sunset Beach.
Alexandra Murphy (IPA ’16) and Marc Delucchi (IPA ’16) calculate costs the old fashioned way since NO PHONES were allowed.
Andrew Labaczewski (IPA ’16) waits for his team near checkout with a cart full of food.
The 20 minute time limit forced some teams to head to the self checkout registers to ensure they completed in time.
Teams watched in suspense to see how close they could get to $300 without going over.
“I feel so good to be able to give back” said Kasey Nunies (IPA ’16) pictured above with Jessica Sato (IPA ’16)
The Island Pacific Academy Class of 2016 excitedly gathered for a quick class photo before leaving Kapolei Target.
