LeBron James to Host Virtual High School Graduation for the Class of 2020

High school graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020 are being canceled all over the United States due to the coronavirus. Lebron James is partnering with Laurene Powell Jobs' XQ Institute and the Entertainment Industry Foundation to host a virtual graduation ceremony for the more than 3 million high school seniors in the US missing out on this special commemoration of hard work and memories.

The one-hour special, which is called Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020, will feature a variety of actors, musicians, athletes, and activities including Jonas Brothers, Yara Shahidi, Ben Platt, Lena Waithe, Megan Rapinoe, Pharell Williams, Bad Bunny, Malala Yousafzai, Chika, and TikTokers Charli and Dixie D'Amelio. You can watch the special on all broadcast platforms—ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC—and on a variety of streaming platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, PeopleTV, and Complex Networks on Saturday, May 16 at 8pm.

“We learned early on in our work with students and families in Akron that education is so much more than academics. It’s about a shared experience, a journey we’re all on together — students, parents, educators, community members, and everyone around them," James said Wednesday in a statement. "With that not being possible right now, we’ve been working to find ways to help families get through this really difficult time. These students have worked incredibly hard for this and there’s no way we can let that go unrecognized. While this won’t be the graduation experience they were supposed to get, we hope we can still give them something special because they deserve it.”

The ceremony will consist of commencement addresses, performances, and inspirational vignettes, all curated by high school students and educators throughout the country, with the support of the American Federation of Teachers. By posting on social with the hashtag #GraduateTogether, students, educators, and families can submit videos and photos to be considered for inclusion in the telecast.

Some of the participating stars, including James and Jonas Brothers, teased the ceremony by posting their senior photos on Instagram:

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jonas Brothers (@jonasbrothers) on Apr 29, 2020 at 4:31pm PDT

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