Obamas to highlight virtual graduation ceremony
With students around the world missing their inperson high school and college graduations, YouTube is rushing into the void to provide some pomp and circumstance via a virtual commencement celebration.
“Dear Class of 2020” is an original special on the streaming platform that will feature commencement addresses delivered by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama and appearances by other celebrities, including BTS, Lady Gaga and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Set to premiere June 6 on the YouTube Originals channel and YouTube’s Learn@ Home site, the festival-style event will feature talks on traditional graduation-day themes mixed in with music performances.
“Graduation is a tradition that students and families look forward to and with the current state of the world, YouTube is lending some inspiration in the form of a virtual commencement,” Susanne Daniels, content chief for YouTube, said in a media release. “We hope bringing together noteworthy, influential speakers along with performances from some of their favorite artists will provide encouragement for the students who have worked so hard to get here.”
YouTube’s announcement comes after other platforms have announced their own graduation plans. For example, Oprah Winfrey will deliver the commencement speech at Facebook’s livestream event May 15, while other notable names — including Awkwafina, Jennifer Garner, Lil Nas X and Simone Biles — are also set to speak.
But YouTube is amping up the star power. Headlining “Dear Class of 2020” are the Obamas, who will each deliver inspirational commencement speeches — as well as “a joint heartfelt message” — to this year’s graduates. Additional commencement speakers include former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, CEO of Alphabet and Google Sundar Pichai, and Malala Yousafzai. BTS and others will perform at a virtual grad night after-party.
“Dear Class of 2020” will also include special appearances by Alicia Keys, Kelly Rowland, Kerry Washington, Chloe x Halle, Zendaya, YouTube creators Jackie Aina, AsapSCIENCE, Dude Perfect, Zane Hijazi, Heath Hussar, Mr. Kate, and The Try Guys.
In “Dear Class of 2020,” people from around the world will join the class of 2020 as a singular community to celebrate their resilience, and the endless possibilities of their future, YouTube said.
YouTube is working in partnership with Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative, Born This Way Foundation, Malala Fund, TODAY, and Ideas United to showcase incredible student stories and feature graduates around the world, including a crowd-sourced commencement speech.
The special will be produced by Done + Dusted.
The full schedule of commencement events will be available on the Learn@ Home site beginning on May 17. Graduates can also set a reminder for the show and sign their name on the “Dear Class of 2020” Shout Out Board.
Graduates will also be able to connect with classmates and loved ones while they watch with Google Meet, a video meetings product, which is now available for free to anyone with an email address. Viewers can find Meet on the web at meet.google.com and if using Gmail or Google Calendar, can easily start or join from there, too.