The class of 2020 will get a special day to celebrate their achievements despite the social-distancing practices throughout the country making it difficult to gather en masse. YouTube is the latest platform to announce their plans to host a virtual commencement for high school and college seniors. Their commencement speakers? Michelle and Barack Obama, BTS and Lady Gaga.
"Dear Class of 2020" will be an hours-long event featuring leaders, celebrities and music artists on June 6 at 3 p.m. EST/ 12 p.m. PST in celebration of students whose commencement ceremonies were canceled due to COVID-19. Malala Yousafzai, former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and CEO of Google and Alphabet Sundar Pichai are additional commencement speakers for the event on the video platform. Barack and Michelle will give individual speeches as well as words together.
According to the National Center For Education Statistics, 3.7 million students are expected to graduate from high school in 2020. Facebook and HerCampus will also have their own ceremonies for graduating seniors.
YouTube's global head of content Susanne Daniel wants students to celebrate what they've achieved regardless of the current circumstances.
"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. 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," she said in a statement.
YouTube's event will also feature appearances from asapSCIENCE, Alicia Keys, Chloe x Halle, Kelly Rowland, Kerry Washington, The Try Guys, Zendaya, Mr Kate, Dude Perfect, Jackie Aina and Zane Hijazi.
Michelle Obama's Reach Higher Initiative, NBC’s "Today," Ideas United, Malala Fund, and Born This Way Foundation are coming together with the platform to also showcase student stories during the ceremony. But the excitement won't end there. BTS are among the musical acts to play the event after-party. Stream YouTube's commencement here.
