The annual tradition of an all-night high school graduation celebration, facilitated by the parents/guardians of the graduates, began approximately 20 years ago. Over the years, like the size of the class and the make-up of the parent groups, the size and scope of the all-night event has taken many forms of magnitude, but always with the dual goals of providing a safe and yet novel night of celebration. This year’s celebration was a blast and will be remembered by all who participated. The challenge to conceive and bring to completion an innovative, safe, all-night/all-engaging event for up to 100 people is intimidating and laborious. While there is no requirement for parents to produce such an event, year after year we have. It is remarkable that an eclectic group of parents/guardians, who may not know each other beyond the level of acquaintance, if at all, come together to take on such a task. It is a gift of labor, intended to punctuate and commemorate this first, great benchmark in our children’s lives. But this endeavor would be impossible without the generosity of the community at large.

The parents of the Unalaska High School Graduates of 2014, with deeply felt, genuine gratitude, say thank you. Not exclusively, but particularly we thank: the community, who purchased raffle tickets, fudge, tamales, various to-go meals, fuzzy dice, baked goods, and garage sale items, and the businesses who contributed saleable goods, logo paraphernalia, gift certificates, supplies, equipment and cash. We especially thank this year: Alaska Ship Supply, Alyeska Seafoods, The Airport Restaurant, Bridges Community Resource Network, Inc., Fil-Am Organization, GCI, Highliner Foods, Horizon-Lines, Island Services, Key Bank, Offshore Systems, Inc., Pacific Coast Maritime, Peterkin Distributing, Safeway, Tel-Alaska, Unisea, Inc., Unalaska Christian Fellowship Church, Westward Seafoods, The Seattle Seahawks, The Unalaska High School Basketball Team, The City of Unalaska’s Dept. of Parks, Culture, and Recreation and Unalaska City Schools. 

We also thank those individuals who went above and beyond to help out and contribute hours of personal time: Matt, Jocelyn & Justice Honan, Fareni Enele & family, Lisa & Duy Tran, Heather Miller, Albert Burnham, Dee Montier, James Gregory, Carlos Tayag, Jake Whitaker, Bryan Stafford, Tully McConnell, Mandy Gates, Killian Baker, Jessica Culp, Lovelyn Vicente, Joe Henning, Rowena Gulanes, Monica Zayas, Mario Ledesma, Dave Iszler, Mylan Pham, Mandy Castellanos, Brenda Mabry, Magda Alonzo, Giselle Armenta, Ashley Robinson, Rosie Pound and Pipa Escalante! You have all made this gift to our children possible; the gift of one last, memorable night of fun, together as classmen of Unalaska High School.

The parents of Unalaska High School’s graduating Class of 2014.