As we all know, COVID-19 has brought about so many losses and inconveniences.
Unfortunately, one of the many inconveniences is the fact that schools across the country have had to cancel graduation ceremonies due to social distancing orders. Just imagine, waiting your whole life for this one moment, only for it to be stripped away from you unexpectedly, due to a global pandemic.
This is the case for the class of 2020.
But have no fear, our forever President and First Lady are here! There have been many requests from students all across the country, to have the Obamas address the graduating class.
Most notably, Lincoln Debenham, a 17-year-old California high school senior who went viral for his request to Barack Obama to deliver a virtual “national commencement speech” for the graduating class of 2020.
The former President's office said in a statement on Tuesday, ”Today, the Obamas are pleased to announce that they will participate in multiple virtual commencement celebrations for students, families and educators."
Former President Barack Obama will be holding a televised graduation event for the high school class of 2020. Separately, Barack and Michelle Obama will be hosting a virtual commencement celebration in June for the college class of 2020.
"Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020" will be a 1-hour multimedia event featuring several guests. The ceremony will air on Saturday, May 16, on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC as well as other broadcast and digital streaming partners, according to a press release.
Special guests will include LeBron James, Malala Yousafzai, the Jonas Brothers, Yara Shahidi, Bad Bunny, Lena Waithe, Pharrell Williams, Megan Rapinoe, H.E.R. and Ben Platt, and the event is being hosted by XQ Institute, The LeBron James Family Foundation and The Entertainment Industry Foundation.
Russlynn Ali, CEO and co-founder of XQ Institute stated, “we are grateful to President Obama for giving this gift to our nation's three million high school seniors as they #GraduateTogether."
"Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition" will be a 2-hour virtual HBCU commencement program presented by Chase in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the United Negro College Fund, the National Association for Equal Opportunity, the National Basketball Association, Paul Quinn College, Howard University and JPMorgan Chase's Advancing Black Pathways Initiative, according to the former president's office. It will be live-streamed on May 16 at 2 p.m. ET.
On June 6, the Obamas will take part in YouTube's "Dear Class of 2020," which will stream live starting at 3 p.m. ET. Both Obamas "will deliver separate commencement addresses" and "a joint message to students," according to the office. Guests for this event will include Malala Yousafzai, Sundar Pichai, former Defense Secretary Bob Gates, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys and Kerry Washington.
We are so happy the class of 2020 will still be honored for all of their hard work and dedication throughout the years. Gaye Magazine would like to congratulate the entire class of 2020, your year will definitely go down in history!