Copperas Cove High School Project Graduation holds car wash fundraiser

By BRITTANY FHOLER

Cove Leader-Press

Volunteers and senior students with the Copperas Cove High School Project Graduation Committee held a car wash fundraiser in the parking lot behind Bush’s Chicken Saturday and raised more than $1,200 for this year’s Project Graduation. 

With the district resuming holding graduation at the Bell County Expo Center this year, planning for Project Graduation has also resumed. The decision for this year’s graduation was announced during the city entities summit meeting last month, leaving just a short while for volunteers to raise money to make the after-graduation party a safe but fun night to remember. 

Project Graduation is an all-night lock-in style event that offers a drug and alcohol-free environment for graduating seniors the night of graduation. 

Antonia Day said she joined as a parent volunteer for the committee after CCHS Director of Student Activities Amal Baty put out a request for volunteers. 

Day’s youngest child is graduating this year, and she said she wanted to help make sure Project Graduation happened this year. 

“It’s a place where you know where your kid is at,” Day said. “You know that they’re safe, they’re having fun. You’re not having to worry about them drunk driving or getting into mischief being a senior and almost grown.”

This year’s event is expected to have a video game trailer as well as inflatable/bounce jump style activities and more, as well as bingo, movies, a DJ and basketball games and volleyball games, according to Day. 

“We just want the kids to be able to enjoy themselves for their last activity of their senior year and wish them luck,” Day said. 

Edleen Aguilara-Nwachuku brought her car to be washed earlier in the morning and then came back with her family’s second car. She said she wanted to support the students and Project Graduation after finding out about the car wash through social media. 

“I think that’s great that they’re working for it, that they’re doing something for themselves and that they’re willing to put the work in,” Aguilara-Nwachuku said about the car wash. “I work for the schools, so if I can come support anything that the students are doing, that’s great.”

She added that she was glad to not have to wash her cars herself, especially as the wife of a soldier who is deployed. 

Brandon Sargent, 18, is a senior this year and is excited about graduating. He said he is looking to the new chapter in his life after graduation. He wants to attend a trade school to become an electrician and will be working at Miller’s Smoke House as well. He said he is looking forward to Project Graduation and has been encouraging his friends to come as well. 

He said he was thankful for the support from the people who lined up to wait for their cars to be washed Saturday. 

The Copperas Cove Project Graduation Committee will also be holding fundraisers at the Copperas Cove McAlister’s Deli on Tuesday, April 27, and at the Copperas Cove Chipotle on May 4, both from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Project Graduation will get a portion of the sales during those hours. Customers must mention the fundraisers at both restaurants. There is also a GoFundMe for the 2021 Project Graduation that has raised $1,320 as of press time at https://gofund.me/80c616be. 

This year’s Project Graduation will be held the evening of graduation on May 28, immediately following the commencement ceremony, at Copperas Cove High School.