By Annie Qu
Staff Writer
Gradnite Chair Tiffany Brodbeck oversees the plans for the class of 2024’s Gradnite, titled “Timeless Twilight.” Brodbeck, who is the parent of a senior, works to ensure that the plans are secure for the senior class’s final event together.
Gradnite is for seniors to enjoy after graduation on May 31 on campus from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. The event was first announced in Jan. after months of planning.
Food options will include the In-N-Out truck, G.E Chano’s Drive Thru Mexican Food and desserts. Some attractions are zipline, rock-climbing, laser tag, a dance floor and a Hypnotist. Seniors can also enjoy activities such as using the photo booth, getting henna tattoos, participating in a raffle and getting their hair and makeup done by the El Monte Beauty School.
Plans involve turning 601 into an area for seniors to lounge and play video games and using the student parking lot as an area for life-sized Mario Kart. The committee hopes to confirm activities including axe-throwing and a Ferris wheel.
The seniors voted on the two main themes of Disney and Nintendo and the title through surveys sent out at the beginning of the school year.
Tickets are priced at $100 and cover all of the activities and food at Gradnite. On April 1, prices rise to $125 and on May 1, they increase to $150. Seniors must sign up using a scancode before purchasing tickets, which they can do by paying through Zelle or with cash or check in the attendance office with Attendance Clerk Leigh Cobb. Tickets can not be purchased directly through 311 as ASB is not involved with planning Gradnite.
Any seniors that have already signed up for Gradnite and anyone new who signs up by the end of March can get half off their ticket.
“This year is only our second year back on campus for Gradnite because of Covid-19 regulations,” Brodbeck said. “It has been a big task to let the seniors understand what Gradnite is all about and what it was originally set up to do. The more seniors that sign up, the more funding that we get, which allows us to add more activities and reduce costs.”
The Gradnite committee members are parents who oversee different areas such as money, food, activities and games and communicate plans with the school district to confirm activities and attractions.
As the Gradnite Committee Chair, Brodbeck runs meetings every second Tuesday of the month in the senate room via both Zoom and in-person. At these meetings, she discusses logistics, funds and activities with the committee, in addition to any parents who hope to provide input or volunteer their services. She also confirms fundraising, student signups, activities and marketing and acquires donations from parents and businesses to help fund Gradnite. In the summer, Brodbeck worked with the TNT booth to coordinate the fireworks booth: Gradnite’s main fundraiser, which ran from July 1 to 4.
“Gradnite is for the seniors to have fun one last time with their senior class before they go their separate ways,” Brodbeck said. “We wanted to make it a fun, safe and memorable experience for the seniors to enjoy with their friends.”