YouTube, in partnership with Higher Reach, Born This Way Foundation, Malala Fund, TODAY, and Ideas United, will host a virtual graduation ceremony, recently adding Beyoncé Knowles-Carter to deliver a message to the graduating class.
“Dear Class of 2020” will celebrate graduates worldwide who were robbed of their opportunity to walk across the stage due to the coronavirus pandemic. The massive virtual event will also include inspirational messages from Beyonce, alongside ceremony headliners forever president and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama, who will deliver the commencement speeches and a joint message. Michelle Obama’s Higher Reach Initiative will kick off the ceremony with an hour-long pre-celebration event. They will be followed by appearances and performances by Chloe x Halle, Kevin Durant, Billy Porter, BTS, Taylor Swift, Megan The Stallion, Lizzo, and many more. Special appearances from Bill Gates, Kerry Washington, Kelly Rowland, Alicia Keys, Zendaya, Lady Gaga, and several others will also be included.
“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,” said Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Content for YouTube.
The ceremony premieres Saturday, June 6th, on YouTube.
