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Seniors head for all-night fun By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings While Ashland High School seniors have concentrated on getting to graduation, local parents have been busy planning Senior All-Night - a night just for fun. In its 19th year, Senior All-Night is an opportunity for graduates to gather collectively one last time. The event, coordinated by parents of the senior class, provides graduates with an avenue to celebrate their success without the presence of drugs or alcohol. In previous years, the event has drawn more than a 90 percent attendance rate, according to co-chair Muriel Ames. "It's just a good idea that really took hold," Ames said. "It's the last opportunity and the only opportunity for the class to be together." Senior All-Night begins at 10 tonight in Southern Oregon University's Stevenson Union Arena. Graduates must show up before 11 p.m. to enter, according to organizers. Along with Ames, co-chairs Richard Presicci and Carole Wheeldon have worked with more than 100 senior parents since October to pull the event together for the 271 AHS grads who will make up the class of 2003. The event was made possible by the more than $18,000 in community donations, organizers said. "It was all money and donations from the community so it really speaks volumes for the community of Ashland," Ames said. Throughout the night, seniors will have the chance to win a number of prizes that include gift certificates, digital cameras, televisions, and cash prizes, including a grand-prize drawing in which two students will win $500. Wheeldon, a former Ashland City Council member and candidate for mayor who attended last year's event, said the energy and enthusiasm throughout the night is contagious. "Last year, I couldn't have imagined I would be able to stay up all night, but I got swept up in the fun the kids were having," she said. Organizers stress the event is drug- and alcohol-free and that any graduates under the influence or possessing illegal substances will be unable to attend. "I think we would be kidding ourselves if we thought this was the answer to deterring drug and alcohol use," Wheeldon said, "but we value their lives and we want them (seniors) to make wise choices and we want to help them do that." Presicci said once graduates leave, they will be unable to re-enter. "If they leave, we're saying we're going to contact parents and let them know and there's no returning," he said. Organizers said scholarships are being made available for students unable to purchase the $20 admission fee. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -