The 2025 Lakeside Elementary Graduate Walk

Lakeside Graduation Walk Tradition Lives On

Sadie Dupin and her classmates from the Class of 2025 took a nostalgic stroll back to where it all began—Lakeside Elementary.

As part of an East Grand Rapids tradition, graduating seniors return to their elementary school in caps and gowns, welcomed by cheers, high-fives, and handmade signs from the current students lining the hallways. It was more than just a walk; it was a celebration of growth, a nod to the past, and a moment of reflection on how far they’ve come.

Another cool tradition is that after the walk is complete, they all meet in the library and open their time capsule that was put together at the end of 5th grade. It includes memories, notes from family members, and reminders from 5th grade. This walk was a reminder that while graduation marks an ending, it’s also the beginning of something new.