‘A whole lot of nostalgia:’ Class of 2025 revisits former schools with Grad Walk tradition

Published 4:38 pm Tuesday, May 27, 2025

By JAMES SLOAN / Rogue Valley Times

Medford seniors stream onto middle, elementary school campuses to loud cheers, hugs and high fives from students and staff

Multiple schools inside the Medford School District were replete with choruses of cheers, kids holding signs of support, many hugs, proud parents and teachers and plenty of high fives all around as the seniors of North Medford High School, South Medford High School and Medford Innovation Academy returned to their old stomping grounds ahead of their graduation ceremonies this week. 

On Tuesday morning, the graduating high schoolers were cheered on by students and staff at McLoughlin Middle School, Jefferson Elementary School as well as along Jackson Street in Medford as they looked back at the educational spaces where they made countless memories along their academic journeys. 

Jefferson Elementary School students honored the seniors with signs, applause and plenty of high fives. James Sloan / Rogue Valley Times

The seniors started at McLoughlin around 10 a.m. before being cheered on along Jackson Street with the “Community Congrats” drive-by, and then finished the Grad Walk at Jefferson Elementary School.

The visits brought “a whole lot of nostalgia, I’ll say that,” said Rodrigo Giovanni Gutierrez, a senior at South Medford High. “It’s been so emotional connecting to our roots where we grew up and how we started off.” 

The seniors were treated like royalty at each visit, being welcomed with loud cheers, claps, hand slaps and more as they traversed the hallways of their old campuses.

“It’s super cool to go through all the schools; it’s not a tradition that every district has, and it’s super fun to be able to reminisce on all of the staff and people that brought you up to the point you’re at now,” said Brooklyn Rather, Innovation Academy senior and valedictorian. “It’s super nice for all of us to see the people who brought us to where we are today.” 

Many students reconnected with their former teachers, sharing hugs and receiving congratulations from staff and students alike. 

The seniors of North Medford High, South Medford High and Innovation Academy will have their graduation ceremonies throughout the week at Speigelberg Stadium in Medford. James Sloan / Rogue Valley Times

“The teachers, you realize as you’re older how much they helped us grow up and how much they helped us be the people we are today; it’s a blessing,” Gutierrez said. 

The graduating seniors will soon receive their diplomas and move on to their next pursuits, academically, professionally or otherwise. 

“I think I’m going to Rogue Community College in the fall, and I’m going to go for business and photography,” Rather said.  

“I aspire to be an orthodontist, so I’m going to Oregon State University to get my pre-dental requisites done, and then I’m going to head to (Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry) to go to dental school,” Gutierrez said.

The Medford district students’ graduating ceremonies are set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, for South Medford High School; 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, for North Medford High School; and 7 p.m. Friday, May 30, for Innovation Academy and Innovation Online. 

Each of the ceremonies will be held at Spiegelberg Stadium on Kenyon Street in Medford. 

For more information on the graduation ceremonies, visit medford.k12.or.us/view-all-news/post-details/~board/medford-school-district-news/post/gear-up-for-graduation. 

Reach reporter James Sloan at james.sloan@rv-times.com.

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