June 24, 2004

Leland, Pioneer celebrate graduation in safe style
Mustangs at Bay, Chargers at Boomer’s

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer



Approximately 500 graduates hailing from Pioneer and Leland High Schools ‘left behind the most exciting night of their lives’ at 2004 Grad Night festivities. Thanks to a slew of parent volunteers sticking around after ceremonies, the local Class of 2004, enjoyed either a cruise across the San Francisco Bay, in the case of the Mustangs, or an all-night trip to Boomer’s, an amusement facility in Livermore, if their diploma read ‘Leland.’

For more than a decade, Leland and Pioneer have held Grad Night, designed, in part, to alleviate the drinking and carousing that occurred in past celebrations. Since time began, unsupervised celebrating has taken tens of thousands of teenage lives nation-wide.

Last week, the freshly graduated students checked into their alma-maters, waving 2004 diplomas and voluntarily vowing sober graduation.

“Pioneer’s PTSA (Parents, Teachers, Students Association) sponsors this grad night to give graduates a fun, safe and memorable graduation night activity,” explained PTSA President Joan Cooper. The Pioneer kids never lacked for fun. After jumping onto busses at the high school, the 200 now-former students were chauffeured to San Francisco and onto a cruise ship outfitted with unlimited refreshments and a penniless gaming casino.

“There was a DJ, a buffet and two caricature artists,” elaborated Cooper. “We worked with Hornblower Cruises and Royal Coach as vendors. They are both fabulous, so it’s an easy event to organize.”

Though modest, Cooper and her cohorts, including fellow volunteer Lorie Biviano, traveled extra lengths as volunteers, rendering the event accessible for as many kids as possible.

“We make a big effort to have this event be affordable for everyone,” said Cooper. “PTSA makes a donation, parents make donations and the senior class holds fund-raisers to keep the price low so everyone who wants to can attend. Next year we will have to reserve a larger boat.”

Not to be outdone, some 270 Leland graduates hopped onto busses headed in another direction, returning to Boomer’s in Livermore for the second year running.

“The kids enjoyed the amusements until 5 a.m.,” said grad night Co-Chairs Mary Maassen and Lauren Wilson.

The two shared arranging the event, where kids raced go-karts and played laser tag. In addition, Boomer’s provided bumper boats, video games, a casino and miniature golf. The graduates also exercised artistic interests making Karaoke videos and posing for caricatures and their ‘athletic’ interests by sumo wrestling.

According to Maassen, the night was a success in both entertainment and local support for a good cause.

“I’d especially like to thank Check-in Chair Neomi Tsukida, who co-chaired grad night from 2001 to 2003 and this year co-chaired even though her kids have already graduated from Leland,” added Maassen. “Thanks also to all the helpers at check-in and memory room.”

In addition, many area businesses donated prizes and goods to Leland’s grad night. Other volunteers included Stayce Nielsen, Diane Pope, Kelly Harada, Kim and Jessica Cooper, Vicki Seelig, Sam Cox, Sofia Widgren, Susan Meshkat, John Beck, Patricia Luna, Barbara and Brandon Conors, Rich, Jocelyn and Stephanie Dreyer, Dawn and Jim Georgiou, Corina Beale and Tony Herz.