Mingus Connection’s Operation Graduation is seeking donations and volunteers to help run its 36th annual event on Friday, May 24, following Mingus Union High School’s graduation ceremony.
Operation Graduation was started by a group of parents in 1988 in response to the death of a student killed in a drunk driving accident while celebrating on graduation night. These parents decided to give graduates an alternative form of party that they viewed as safer and created Operation Graduation.
Mingus Connection is a nonprofit foundation that was formed in 1991 to create educational opportunities for MUHS students. In 2022, the foundation took over the Operation Graduation event. The event is also sponsored by the Cottonwood Recreation Center, parents, community volunteers and local businesses.
“Operation Graduation is a wonderful tradition that offers seniors a safe and fun way to celebrate graduation with their friends,” Mingus Connection president Barbie Duncan said. “The Cottonwood Rec[reation] Center is our partner and the entire facility closes its doors to the public and opens them to seniors for that one night, providing them with a place to have fun, play games, get together and win prizes.”
The event will allow attendees to play ping pong, use the pool and water slide, play video games, use the climbing wall and sing karaoke, among other activities. There will be food and drinks and a DJ will be playing music.
The doors will open at 9 p.m. and will allow graduates to arrive until 10:30 p.m. If students leave the building they are not allowed to reenter. To encourage them to stay for the duration of the event, prizes are raffled off at the end of the evening. Last year’s prizes included electronics, computers and gift certificates. This year, there is a large cash prize of $2,024 to honor the year of the graduating class.
“I am looking forward to being able to be with my classmates for one last time,” senior Haleigh O’Donnal said. “For some of us this is the last time we are ever going to see each other.”
“This event is possible thanks to the generous donations of our community,” social media lead Sarah Garrett said. “We still need volunteers to help set up, clean and chaperone the event, as well as food and prize donations from businesses and the community. All donations are welcome.”
Since Operation Graduation is not a MUHS-approved event, no district funds are used to support it. Monetary donations can be made through the event’s GoFundMe page or by check payable to “Operation Graduation 2024” that can be dropped off at the MUHS front office.
For information on volunteering, contact Barbie Duncan at (928) 301-4687 or email 2024opgrad@gmail.com.
