Graduation comes with a sense of pride, pomp and circumstance, and the excitement of taking the next step in life.
One annual event in the Queen Creek Unified School District (QCUSD) has traditionally provided another opportunity to celebrate seniors and inspire younger students.
The "Grad Walk" is a tradition in QCUSD, where graduating seniors of Queen Creek High School walk the halls of their old elementary schools to the cheers and excitement of younger students who will someday walk in their shoes.
At each school, the seniors are greeted with "congratulations" signs, chants and cheers. After the walk, seniors get the opportunity to speak to the schools, sharing words of encouragement, funny stories of their time in elementary school, and even thanking their old elementary school teachers.
"It allows our seniors a chance to go full circle," said Lee Harmon, a school counselor who helps plan grad walk events. "It reminds them where they started, recognizing the people that helped them along the way, understanding the importance of giving back."
Many Queen Creek High seniors spoke to students last week about the importance of being involved in their schools.
"Whether that is clubs, electives or teams, I told them that getting involved makes your high school experience so much more fun," senior graduate William Waddington said.
This year's graduation will be the first for Eastmark High School. Its first senior class includes over 130 students. Eastmark's seniors will be having their own "Grad Walk" this Wednesday, May 18.
Over 580 seniors will be graduating this year from QCUSD, with Eastmark High's graduation May 18 and Queen Creek High's graduation on Thursday, May 19.
