When schools were shut down, many seniors had to say goodbye to the idea of in-person classes, prom and graduation. And while students can’t physically be at their graduation, Facebook is trying to make the milestone a little more special with the help of Oprah Winfrey herself.
On May 15, Facebook will host a special virtual event to celebrate the Class of 2020 and they’ve tapped Oprah to be the official commencement speaker. The OWN founder will be joined by other big celebs like Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Garner and Simon Biles, to name a few.
"This is a bittersweet time for the Class of 2020. As students head toward graduation, it’s not the day they might have imagined—no processions, no diploma handoffs, no parties. They are commencing at a time of great uncertainty," Facebook Executive Marne Levine wrote in a FB blog post. "But graduating is a tremendous achievement, and worth pausing to celebrate even in these circumstances."
According to the post, the ceremony will acknowledge high schools and colleges across the country with special messages from deans and principals. The social media giant is also encouraging students to host their own virtual graduations and parties using special features provided by Facebook like custom filters, a personal hub and more.
