Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu Monday presented a check for $5,000 to the San Manuel Elks to help offset the cost of Project Graduation, held May 21-22 for local graduates. Project Graduation has kept local graduates safe on graduation night for many years. It takes more than $15,000 to host Project Graduation. Project Graduation is an all night lock-in party for all local graduating seniors plus one of their friends on the night of graduation. The Elks provide food, soft drinks, movies, games and lots of prizes to entice the kids to stay the entire night. In the morning, several laptop computers and sometimes other big ticket items are given away in a random drawing. The top prize, of course, is a car. This year’s car was a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix and was won by Victoria Cazares. Babeu, center, presented the check to Fred Creeley and Dave Martin, and while it was a little late, it was welcome nevertheless.Jennifer Carnes | Miner