ELKINS — The Randolph County Commission has approved funding requests for two area organizations that will host graduation parties for local high school students this spring.

During its most recent meeting, the commissioners unanimously voted to provide $2,000 each to the Elkins Kiwanis Club and Tygart Valley Lions Club.

The Elkins Kiwanis will offer Project Safe Graduation for Elkins High School students at the Phil Gainer Community Center on May 29. It will mark the 41st year that the party has been organized for graduating seniors.

Elkins Kiwanis Secretary/Treasurer Rachel Varner gave an informational presentation to Commissioners David Kesling and Cris Siler, who were present at the meeting.

“This is the second year that the Elkins Kiwanis Club has hosted Project Safe Graduation for Elkins High School,” Varner said. “Last year we had just over 100 students come out and we’ve heard they had a great time. We are hoping for another great turnout this year.”

Varner said this year’s event would begin at 9 p.m. May 29 and end at 6 a.m. the following morning.

“We are planning on having some of the same activities that we did last year, including Kiwanis casino games, henna tattoos, and a cornhole tournament with some awards,” Varner said. “We are looking to borrow some inflatable games from the Davis Trust Company and we’ve been talking to Citizens Bank about being able to use their dunk tank again, that was a big hit with the kids.”

Varner said other activities are also being planned and that many prizes, including money and numerous gift cards, will be given out during the event.

“Each student who stays for the entire party we hope to have prizes gathered up that’s going to at least total $25,” Varner said. “Last year there was a little more and the kids are big into electronics, so they want money and electronics. So my spare room looks like a storage room for Target or Walmart where we did some Black Friday shopping to get some good deals. This year for our grand prize we are going to give away two Kindle Scribes.”

Varner’s organization is asking local businesses for donations for the party.

“The donations can be either monetary or items that can be given away,” Varner said. “Last year we worked with several restaurants to help us with the food.”

Steve Currence, chair for Tygart Valley Lions Club, spoke on his organization’s behalf. Currence said the TVLC has been presenting the Tygarts Valley Graduation Party for the past 29 years, noting that the event was created after some tragic accidents involving students.

“The lock-in started after we had some students pass away after some drunk-driving accidents in our area,” Currence said. “So one of our club members decided to start it up. We decided that we want to give parents one night of peace after graduation before their kids become adults.”

Currence said the Tygarts Valley High School Graduation Party/Lock-in will be May 28 at the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA.

“We have a great time at the Y and we raise funds for this party,” Currence said. “We thank you guys for helping us every year and about 85 to 95% of our graduates usually show up for the lock-in.”

The $2,000 each that was given to both organizations will be taken from the courthouse contractual line item of the county budget.

The next County Commission meeting will be April 16 at 1:30 p.m.