clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

LeBron James recruits Barack Obama for his star-studded virtual graduation ceremony

James and some of his A-list friends are getting together to celebrate the graduating class of 2020.

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

LeBron James Opens “I PROMISE” School Photo by Allison Farrand/NBAE via Getty Images

Due to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, high schools across the country have been forced to cancel graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020. Most high schools will hold virtual graduation ceremonies for their students, but it’s hard to imagine any of them will be able to top the one the LeBron James Family Foundation, Entertainment Industry Foundation and XQ Institute is going to put on for the class of 2020 later this month.

On Saturday, May 16, some of the most accomplished actors, athletes, musicians and speakers will virtually gather for a one-hour prime time television event called “Graduate Together: America Honors the Class of 2020” The special, which will simultaneously broadcast on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and other social media platforms, will celebrate the graduating class of 2020.

Some of the names that have already been confirmed for the ceremony include the 44th president of the United States Barack Obama, Grammy award-winning musicians Pharrell Williams and H.E.R., Grammy award nominees Bad Bunny and the Jonas Brothers, Emmy award-winning writer and actress Lena Waithe, and James himself.

We’ll skip James’ accolades for the sake of time — just know there’s a lot.

Much like a real graduation, it’s not just for the students — they can get involved and be a part of it too. For example, the event’s organizers are asking students to send their portraits so they can be a part of their virtual yearbook. In addition, they’re giving students an opportunity to win $5,000 by submitting a video of them giving an uplifting speech to their classmates.

For more on how students, families and educators can get involved with “Graduate Together,” you can visit graduatetogether2020.com.

For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow this author on Twitter at @RadRivas.

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the Silver Screen & Roll Daily Roundup newsletter!

A daily roundup of Los Angeles Lakers news from Silver Screen & Roll