McCORDSVILLE — It didn’t take very long for about 15 Mt. Vernon seniors to walk through McCordsville Elementary School, but they hope the impact of meeting with elementary students lasts for years.
Members of the class of 2018 at Mt. Vernon High School spent some time Friday afternoon at Mt. Vernon’s three elementary schools, walking down the hallways in their caps and gowns to the rousing applause of the elementary students. On the way down the hallways, they high-fived the students and hugged former teachers they hadn’t seen in years.
Mt. Vernon Principal Greg Roach said the idea behind the “Marauder Mile” is two-fold. It’s a way to celebrate the accomplishments of the seniors and an opportunity to encourage the elementary students that one day they can graduate, too.
“We want them to realize we celebrate those who graduate,” Roach said. “And for the seniors, they all said it was in incredible experience.”
For senior Lauren Pilkington, the walk at McCordsville Elementary gave her the chance to go back to the school she went to when she was little.
“It was definitely an honorary thing for me,” Pilkington said. “A chance to go back and let my teachers know I did it and they played a role in that.”
Class Valedictorian Matthew Rollo was also walking at McCordsville on Friday. He said he was there as much for the teachers as he was for the students and his fellow classmates.
“I think this really shows the teachers that all the hard work they put into us pays off,” Rollo said. “And it shows the younger kids that we still care and we still remember our roots. The memories you make in school will always stay.”
Friday was a day full of celebrations at McCordsville, Principal Stephanie Miller said. Before the seniors showed up, they honored the fifth-graders who were moving to the middle school next year. Miller said the moving up celebration tied in well with the Marauder Mile.
“They get to see the goal in mind,” Miller said. “We call them the class of 2025, so I think it’s cool they get to see the graduates up close.”
As the inaugural iteration of the walk through schools, Roach sent out an email inviting any senior who wanted to participate to the event. He said he hopes the event becomes a tradition that continues to catch on and grow.
Senior Timmy Clone said he was excited to take part in the very first one.
“I saw the email and was like ‘might as well be a part of history,'” Clone said.
