Yellowknife (May 26/06) - Candlelit lunches, fashion shoots and free rides to and from school are just a few items up for bids at St. Pat's.

Why would students go to such lengths, you ask? To graduate of course!

The St. Pat's graduation council hosted a grad auction last week.

Students got a chance to bid on groups of grads who created lists of what they would offer winning bidders as a graduation fundraiser.

"It's a list of things you've agreed to be subjected to," said Matthew Harvey, grad executive member and emcee for the event.

About 100 students gathered around the rock front to bid for their favourite grads.

"I don't know who I'm going to bid for yet," said 17-year-old Chris McLean.

"I want someone to do my homework and give me a bubble bath and massage," he added jokingly.

Grads Sarah Von Hagen, Morgan Moffitt and Kirsten Gauthier, all 17, said they would sing songs, offer free make-overs, or walk the winning bidder to every class.

The girls ended up with a final bid of $60.

"We were hoping for more," said Von Hagen, smiling. She is also on the grad executive.

In all, more than 40 graduates-to-be participated in the event. The amount raised was not available as of deadline Wednesday.

The St. Pat's graduation is scheduled to be held June 2 and 3.

Students and faculty have been fundraising all year to put on a great event, said grad council member 17-year-old Daniel Laity.

"We did a picture scavenger hunt and will be doing a grad survivor game," he said.

Most of the 76 students graduating this year are looking forward to the events planned.

"Dry grad is kind of seen as epic," said Lana Campbell, 17. She will be toasting parent contributions to the grads at the ceremony.

Similar to Sir John Franklin high school students, grads will participate in a grad march and prom next Friday night, June 2, beginning at 9 p.m. in the St. Pat's gym.

At the march, students be dressed to impress in gowns and tuxedos. This is the part Laity is looking forward to the most because he plans to make quite the entrance in his suit.

"It's a secret, but it's not black, white, or grey," he said.

The night will be followed by morning mass at St. Patrick parish at 11 a.m., to be followed by the official convocation at 2 p.m. back at the school.

A family barbecue with games will be held at 7 p.m. outside the Ruth Inch Memorial Pool and the Yellowknife Community Arena. This event will then become a celebration in Ancient Egypt at 9 p.m. -- the theme for the dry grad -- which will end in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

A six-metre tall pyramid will be the focal point of the evening. "The parents work so hard to make the decorations," said Campbell.

Unlike Sir John Franklin students, St. Pat's graduates sign a contract saying they will not drink or do drugs of any kind all weekend, instead of just at the dry grad celebration on Saturday night. Campbell said most students don't mind because it's only one weekend.