The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Charles County Citizens for Substance Free Youth on the 30th Annual Project Graduation, which will take place on May 29 and May 30 from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. at the College of Southern Maryland. This free event aims to celebrate graduating high school seniors in Charles County in a drug, alcohol and tobacco-free environment, where the focus can be on having fun without the pressure to use these dangerous substances.

Students from La Plata, Thomas Stone, and Westlake High Schools are invited to participate on their graduation day, May 29, and students from North Point, McDonough and Lackey High Schools are invited to participate on their graduation day, May 30. Tickets for all graduates plus one guest will be distributed prior to graduation. Students who attend private schools or who are home schooled are also invited to participate and will need to contact Project Graduation at MyProjectGrad.com for tickets.

“It is our pleasure to be involved in programs such as Project Graduation,” said Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry. “Graduating high school seniors should be proud of their accomplishments, and it is imperative that we come together as a community to provide an environment that allows our graduates to celebrate and get home safely.”

Project Graduation features big prize giveaways to include iPods, iPads, televisions, refrigerators, gift cards, and other valuable items. The event will also include games, mechanical bull riding, an obstacle course, airbrush tattoos, food and beverages. The swimming pool will be open for those who wish to swim.

Graduates and their guests should bring a photo ID along with their tickets to enter the event. Sheriff’s officers will be on hand throughout the campus to ensure everyone’s safety. They will also help with a security checkpoint at the entrance of the college.

Project Graduation is coordinated by the Charles County Citizens for Substance Free Youth, a group of volunteers who generously donate their time and money to making this event possible year after year. The event is funded by local businesses, private donations, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, the County Commissioners, Charles County Public Schools, the College of Southern Maryland, the Charles County Substance Abuse Advisory Coalition, the Charles County Jaycees and many more. Those interested in volunteering or contributing to Project Graduation should contact John Hayden at (301) 934-9047. For more information about the program, visit MyProjectGrad.com.

Charles County Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest or indictment of a person responsible for a crime in Charles County. Anyone with information about an unsolved crime or the location of a fugitive may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS, texting CHARLES + the tip to CRIMES (274637) or submitting tips online at tipsubmit.com. All individuals who provide tips through Crime Solvers will remain anonymous. Learn more at the CCSO’s website.

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is a full-service law enforcement agency comprised of more than 600 police, corrections and civilian personnel responsible for protecting more than 150,000 residents. The CCSO was accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in 2001 has been designated as a CALEA Gold Standard of Excellence agency since 2011. Established in 1658, the CCSO is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the United States. For more information, visit www.ccso.us.      

Media Contact
Diane Richardson
301-609-6557
richardsond@ccso.us