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Hundreds of students take part in traditional 'Walk to Hillsborough.' Here's the meaning behind it

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Published  January 10, 2025 11:20am EST
Tampa
FOX 13 News

Annual ‘Walk to Hillsborough’

More than 350 Seminole Heights Elementary School students walked 12 blocks to Hillsborough High School on Friday. It was part of the 30th annual Walk to Hillsborough.

The Brief

    • The 30th annual Walk to Hillsborough took place Friday morning.
    • More than 350 Seminole Heights Elementary School students walked 12 blocks to Hillsborough High School.
    • The 12 blocks signify the 12 years from elementary school to high school graduation.

TAMPA, Fla. - An annual tradition in Seminole Heights happened Friday morning.

More than 350 Seminole Heights Elementary School students walked 12 blocks to Hillsborough High School. It was part of the 30th annual Walk to Hillsborough.

The 12 blocks signify the 12 years from elementary school to high school graduation, and the event encourages students to make a promise to graduate. School staff, teachers, parents and community members joined the students.

More than 350 Seminole Heights Elementary School students walked 12 blocks to Hillsborough High School on Friday.

More than 350 Seminole Heights Elementary School students walked 12 blocks to Hillsborough High School on Friday.

"This is all about goal setting for our students," Seminole Heights Elementary School Principal Francine Lazarus said.

"We want them to focus on high school graduation and so, walking these 12 blocks signifies all the years, all the hard work it takes to get across that stage at high school graduation," she said.

"It’s all about thinking about ‘what do I need to do to reach my goals,’ and set those expectations right now and just think beyond where they are right now. Think about what they want to do when they grow up. Think about what they want to do after high school graduation," Lazarus said.

Students heard from motivational speakers and got awards after walking to Hillsborough High School.

Students heard from motivational speakers and got awards after walking to Hillsborough High School.

When they got to Hillsborough High, they packed the auditorium, heard from motivational speakers and got awards like perfect attendance and most improved in test scores. Organizers said it’s an incredibly special day for everyone.

"It’s just an awesome way to bring the community together, to build a bridge between the high school our kids are going to attend and the elementary school," organizer Tyler Marsh, a physical education teacher at Seminole Heights Elementary, said. "They can see the giant school. It’s beautiful and they just get really excited about the event," he said.

Several of the parents that walked with their kids on Friday participated in the event themselves when they were in school.

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