Prizes

The eligibility, type and methods of awarding prizes should be resolved before the ANP event. The Prize committee should resolve who is eligible, what types of prizes, and how the prizes will be awarded.

There are typically six categories of ANP prizes:

• Incentive Prizes: Awarded during the year to entice the graduates to attend ANP.
• Game and Contest Prizes: Awarded to entice the graduates to try the Games/Contests.
• Door Prizes: Awarded as an incentive to come to the ANP.
• Grand Prize: A high value prize awarded as an incentive to stay the entire night.
• Random Prizes: Prizes given randomly to make ANP more exciting and fun.
• Grad Nite Favors: Inexpensive prizes given to all graduates.

Incentive Prizes

Prizes are awarded weekly or biweekly prior to ANP to encourage early ticket purchase and enhance publicity. Only ANP ticket holders are eligible for the drawings. Suggestions for incentive prizes include:

• Cash ($20)
• Pizza party
• Movie passes
• Dinner coupons
• Grad Nite T-shirt
• Store gift cards
• Coupons for video rental
• Inexpensive Item (CD player, portable telephone, answering machine, etc.).

Game and Contest Prizes

Carnival and Games of Chance prizes should not be high-value items. Ensure the prize awards are setup to prevent the appearance of gambling. Keep in mind that some graduates will not (or are not allowed to) participate in the games of chance.

• Some ANPs give raffle tickets as prizes for the games of chance. The raffle tickets are then entered into a special drawing at the end of the night to win prizes.
• Some ANPs give "funny" money as prizes. The “funny” money is redeemed at a prize store or silent auction. The ANP should ensure the “funny” money prizes are equal value to discourage the graduates from playing the games of chance for the sole purpose of trying to get an item of high value.

Suggestions for game prizes include:

• Stuffed animals
• Stadium cups
• Sweatshirts
• Inflatable pool items
• Beach sandals
• Thermos jugs
• ANP T-shirts
• ANP coffee mugs
• Boxer shorts
• Funny hats

Contest Prizes

These prizes encourage participation in the various contests such as dance contests, hulahoop, limbo, lip sync, Guest-How-Many, and photo identification.

• Anytime the contest winner is a team of two or more persons, be sure to give individual prizes. Just because two people competed together doesn't mean that they will share the prize.
• Consider giving inexpensive consolation prizes for non-winners of carnival games. Some businesses give product samples or ad products suitable for consolation prizes (soft drink coupons, model kits, cosmetics, product samples, etc.)

Door Prizes and Grand Prizes

Door prizes are typically large value items, which all graduates are equally eligible to win. ANPs typically award door prizes at the end of the party and require the winner to be present to win.

The Grand Prize is typically a high value item (s), which all graduates are equally eligible to win. ANPs typically select the Grand prizes winners at the end of the party and require the winner to be present to win.

Suggestions for Door Prizes Include:

• AM/FM Cassette player
• Phone answering machine
• Concert or sports tickets
• Cash
• Luggage
• Telephone
• Golf clubs
• Walkman radio
• Popcorn popper
• Bike
• Watch
• Gift certificates
• Small refrigerator
• Health club membership
• Microwave oven
• Sunglasses
• Camera
• Picture frame
• Desk lamp
• Body board
• Typewriter
• Dinner for two

Suggestions for Grand Prizes Include:

• Cash
• Fancy boom box/mini-stereo
• Trip to a major theme park
• Ski weekend
• Concert tickets
• Shopping spree
• Color TV
• Mountain bike
• Stereo system
• New or used car
• Airline tickets
• Computer

Random Prizes

Random prizes make the ANP more fun and exciting. Try any of the following:

• Give a prize to every 10th, 50th, and/or 300th graduate to arrive.
• Give a prize to the first 50 or 100 graduates to arrive.
• Give prizes to those who find certain “items” at ANP (marked cup, chair, etc.).
• Some schools design a grid on a page of the graduate's passport. Each square is for a certain area of ANP (like the casino). The graduates with the most squares filled in with a verification stamp from each area win a prize.

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Modified: Friday, September 30, 2005