Regional Office of Education #39
Project Name: Milligan Academy/Futures Unlimited/Foundations/Option 3 - Graduation Caps and Gowns Project
Project summary: Some students can attend their home school's graduation; however, most choose to celebrate where they have completed classes. Offering quarterly graduations, we are seeking funds to provide cap and gowns to students, creating more of a traditional ceremony similar to their home school's graduation.
Amount requested: $4,500
Website: https://www.maconpiattroe.org/
Project statement of need: The alternative programs within the ROE include Milligan Academy, Futures Unlimited, Foundations and Option 3. Each of these programs allow students to overcome significant life challenges and achieve academic success in a non-traditional school setting. Each quarter, we host a graduation ceremony for 30-40 graduates from the combined programs. A cap and gown during a graduation ceremony symbolizes recognition and achievement. These accessories will give our graduates an opportunity to feel appreciated and celebrated as if they were walking the stage at their home district. We always want to give each of our students fair and equal opportunity. Our ceremony gives our students the chance for them to have a special day for all their hard work. Our ability to provide graduation apparel also reduces the financial burden that could be the deciding factor in participating in the graduation ceremony.
Describe how this project aligns with your organization's mission and goals? Our organizations and respective program's mission is to lead and promote programs to ensure students' success and are prepared for becoming a productive member of the community. The project gives the graduates the opportunity to participate in a ceremony in which they are celebrated and presented with a cap and tassel to signify and commemorate their efforts and achievements. A big piece of education is equal opportunity for all students. It is our goal that the students who attend our programs should be recognized in the same manner as those in traditional schools.
Age groups served: Teens
Gender served: Female
Number of females served: Over 90 each year
Explanation of intent - existing program: The purpose of supplying graduation caps and gowns for the alternative programs is to have the students feel equal to the other graduation ceremonies that happen at their home schools. Students have stated they truly enjoy having the graduation caps and gowns provided for them. Students have also mentioned that they are grateful the programs have taken care of planning all of the details and financially provide for them to have these items to walk across the stage and have those traditional graduation memories.
Wearing a graduation cap and gown symbolizes an achievement or milestone. We believe it is important for our organization to continue providing graduation caps and gowns to our students because it makes our students feel part of a unit.
Sustainability beyond grant period: To sustain this project, we will be applying for continual grants every few years to cover the costs until we are able to incorporate the cost into our annual budget. Once absorbed, the project can be sustained without additional funding.
If you receive partial funding, how would the program be impacted? If we were to receive partial funding, we would try to add this into the next school years budget to cover the remaining costs and/or apply for other grants.
Project budget narrative: The grant proposal budget aligns with the mission statements of the four programs; Milligan Academy, Futures Unlimited, Foundations and Option 3 by wanting to celebrate each student that has successfully completed their high school career. The mission statements of the four programs state that we want to create a supportive environment where students feel valued and inspired to reach their full potential. The caps and gowns symbolize their accomplishments that they have achieved while being in high school. The caps and gowns help the students feel valued and hope to inspire them to do great things after they walk the stage. The programs would love to continue supporting the students by removing the barrier of ordering graduation caps and gowns.
Income #1- Request from the grant Program- $4,500.00
Expense #- Rental of caps, gowns, tassels for 2025-2026 School year: $4,320.00
Each unit is $27 (shipping, tax, etc.).
We graduate approximately 40 students each quarter.
We have 4 graduations a year.
Total for caps and gowns for a school year is approximately $4,320.00.
The students are able to keep the caps and tassels. We return the gowns when the ceremony is complete.
Expense #2- Incidentals- Hangers, Wall Hooks, Steamer, Garment Rack $180.00
When the shipment of caps and gowns come in, we have to organize each unit by the student's name. We hang up each gown and steam the wrinkles out of them before the students put them on to walk the stage. We can use a garment rack to move the bundle of graduation caps and gowns from the room where we steam them to the gym where we use the hangers, and wall hooks to display them for the students to find their caps and gowns easily the day of graduation.
The budget will be managed by Elizabeth Shriver, Business Office Manager for the Regional Office of Education #39. I, Kylah Poland, report to Elizabeth anytime we are paying for graduation caps and gowns for approval of the use of funds.
To sustain this project, we will be applying for continual grants every few years to cover the costs until we are able to incorporate the cost into our annual budget. Once absorbed, the project can sustain without additional funding.
