By LESTER CHANG
Each year Sunnyvale parent Tom Larsen is chagrined to hear about graduating seniors who seriously hurt themselves or die in accidents--usually after using drugs or alcohol at a graduation-night party.
Larsen, whose 18-year-old daughter graduates from Fremont High School this year, wants to prevent more accidents from happening.
That is why Larsen has put so much effort in making the Fremont High School 1996 All Night Grad Night party at the school on June 6 a success.
For almost a year, Larsen, chairman of the event, and at least 44 other parents have planned and constructed fixtures in the school's gym and patio for the big night.
The Grad Night party, which has a 1950s theme, will run from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Similar graduation night parties will be held at Cupertino, Monta Vista, Lynbrook and Homestead high schools.
With $18,000 raised from donations and fundraisers, and with the help of at least 100 businesses from Santa Clara Valley, the Fremont group has planned a night of activities that include volleyball, skating, video games, casino games, movies, karaoke singing, a disc jockey, dancing and food.
Dances have traditionally been held at that school and at the other four high schools in the Fremont Union High School District.
But school officials and parents have put on more elaborate graduation night events at the Fremont High School since the mid-1980s, Larsen said.
"As the vice of the world gets worse, the desire of the parents to do something better has only gotten stronger," Larsen said. "Grad night, for many students, is one of relief, and even some of the good students can make a careless decision that could affect them for life. We do what we do because we care for our kids."
Thus far, 200 of the 395 graduating seniors have each paid $55 to attend the event.
And up to 15 students who can't afford to attend will be able to do so through a $750 donation from a Sunnyvale family.
While half the graduating seniors will attend supervised activities at the school, many of the rest will probably attend private parties, where they may get hold of drugs and alcohol, Larsen said.
"Some might get drunk or use drugs, and they may end up, if they are driving, wrapped up around the side of a tree and get hurt or killed," Larsen said.
"We are trying to prevent that from happening."
Last June, 25 parents filled the chairmanships of 15 committees for such activities as security, food, entertainment, prizes and donations, Larsen said.
Parents have met monthly since then; parents armed with hammers and nails built booths last February and were scheduled to finish most of the other projects by the end of this month.
The party planners have inserted a little bit of Hollywood glitz to make the event memorable.
Floodlamps will sweep the night skies, a white stretch limousine will greet students as they arrive on the school grounds and valet parking will be used.
Some 240 prizes with a total value of $3,500 will be given away. They include bicycles, video recorders, televisions, cameras and microwave ovens.
In a cabaret-carnival atmosphere, palm reading and carnival games will be offered. Volleyball and skating will be offered for students wanting to let off steam.
The event is also special because it will mark the last time a graduating class will be connected with the school's longtime logo--a native American masthead.
Because local Native Americans complained the logo was offensive, the Fremont Union High School District Board of Trustees voted to abolish the symbol last year.
For students, graduation night will be something "we hope they will remember the rest of their lives," Larsen said.
"For parents, Grad Night offers them a chance to know their children will be going to a place that is fun and safe," he said.
To inquire about buying tickets for Grad Night, call Julia Ziegler at 522-2408.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, June 5, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.