by Dennis Dalman
Graduates of the Class of 2025 at Sartell High School enjoyed a colorful flurry of fun, games and music at a party that lasted all night long Saturday, May 31 at the high school.
The party, attended by 240 graduates, started at 10:30 p.m. and lasted until 5 a.m. Sunday morning. The total number of students who recently graduated totaled 309.
Hilary Burns, one of the party organizers, described the festive, exciting night during an interview with the Newsleaders.
“We all had a great time,” she said. “Of the students who registered for the party – 240 of them – all showed up.”
One of those students was Caitlyn Burns, daughter of Hilary and Bryan Burns. This was Hilary’s fourth consecutive year as a member of the Sartell Grad Party Committee, which is comprised of about 20 parent volunteers. The Burns’ other daughter, Abbie, was a 2023 Sartell High School graduate. Their son, Alex, will be a sophomore next year.
The grand prize of the party, a new car donated by Miller Auto Plaza in St. Cloud, was announced in the wee hours of Sunday just before the party ended. The name chosen from the box was that of graduate Haley Willardsen. She was, naturally, so surprised and so excited, all smiles when her name was announced. Hillary Burns met her Monday morning, May 26 to hand her the keys to the car and instructions to go to Miller Auto to register ownership of the vehicle.
The long and lively party, which took place throughout the high school included free foods, snacks and drinks (non-alcoholic obviously) throughout the night. The fun included a dee-jay playing songs, yoga, chair massages, bingo, casino blackjack tables, a photo booth, temporary tattoos, cookie-decorating, inflatables and even two therapy dogs.
There were also random cash drawings of $100 each, which were won by nine students. And there were about two dozen prize drawings for items that included Woozoo fans for dorm rooms, dorm-room chairs, fishing rods, air fryers, makeup mirrors, computers, TVs, iPads, Apple watches, a pickleball set and an inflatable paddle board.
Hilary Burns met her husband-to-be, Bryan, when they were both students at Buffalo, New York’s Clarence High School. Bryan’s family had moved to Buffalo from Indiana just before he was a senior in school. They clicked and were married after their graduation in 1997.
“We didn’t have a graduation party,” Hilary said. “So it was extra special to take part in this one in Sartell.”
Hilary is a substitute teacher and Bryan works at the DeZurik Co. in Sartell.
Burns encourages other parents to join the Sartell Grad Planning Committee for next year and future years. The planning starts every September and committee members meet once a month until the night of the party.
“We’re always seeking new members to carry on the tradition,” she said. “We want to thank all the businesses, parents and volunteers who made the party possible and a special thank-you to Miller Auto Plaza for donating the car.”
Sartell High School graduate Haley Willardsen stands next to the car that she won during the grand-prize drawing at the Sartell Grad Party. In this photo, she is shown at Miller Auto Plaza in St. Cloud to register her ownership of her new car. The vehicle was donated by Miller Auto Plaza.
Graduates have fun at the Casino blackjack tables during an all-night Sartell Grad Party at Sartell High School from 10:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31 to 5 a.m. Sunday morning.
Sartell graduates enjoy yoga exercises during the all-night Sartell Grad Party at the high school in which 240 graduates attended out of the 309 who graduated.
