Online graduation (Mohammad Shahhosseini, Unsplash)
June 23, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that a virtual graduation ceremony will take place for the city’s high school students next week.
The ceremony for the class of 2020 will be held on June 30 at 7 p.m. and will be streamed online and broadcast on local TV, the mayor said in a statement Tuesday morning.
Seniors spent their final months at high school learning from home and public graduation ceremonies were canceled.
The mayor acknowledged the great upheaval and challenges students faced during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Graduating high school under normal circumstances is an extraordinary accomplishment, but I am especially impressed by the Class of 2020 and all they have been through to get to this point,” the mayor said.
De Blasio said that the graduation will bring the entire city together in celebration.
The online ceremony will feature musical performances by Brooklyn band Phony Ppl and other students performers.
Guest speakers will include world-renowned rapper Pitbull, award-winning artist Lin-Manuel Miranda as well as Kenan Thompson, Nick Kroll, Angela Yee, Tina Fey and Andy Cohen.
The event will also host student spotlights, a valedictory speech, and contributions from teachers and family members.
The graduation will air live on PIX11’s TV channel, website, and social media channels.
It will also be live-streamed on the DOE’s and City’s social media channels, as well as at https://www.nycclassof2020.com/.
