When schools were shut down recently, many students found themselves saying goodbye to the idea of in-person gatherings, extracurricular activities and what they knew as a ‘normal’ end to their school year, all together. But some of those students were saying goodbye to graduation ceremonies, diploma handoffs and parties they’ve waited their entire lives for. For the past four years, these young adults have worked towards one special day. Graduation.

The Class of 2020 will go down in history as one of the most adaptable graduating classes of our time. They are experiencing one of life’s most exciting accomplishments. And it is most definitely a time for pause, reflection and celebration.

Facebook and Instagram are doing their part to help celebrate these graduating seniors, with #Graduation2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020. Facebook Executive Marne Levine shared the following information regarding, #Graduation2020:

“On May 15 at 11AM PT/2PM ET, we’ll broadcast #Graduation2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020. Your commencement address will be given by Oprah Winfrey. Awkwafina, Jennifer Garner, Lil Nas X, Simone Biles, and more, will share words of wisdom for the class of 2020. Miley Cyrus will do a special performance of her hit song, “The Climb.”

The ceremony will acknowledge high schools and colleges in the US by name, state by state, including photos and videos of the class of 2020 and messages from deans and principals across the country. The video will be shared on Facebook Watch and available at facebook.com/facebookapp. Highlights and more will be posted to the @instagram account on Instagram, and on contributors’ social media accounts.

Graduates can also host their own virtual graduation ceremony and party via Facebook, with special features including a virtual graduation hub, custom filters, family and friends celebrations enabled by Messenger Rooms, and more.

On Monday, May 11, @instagram will kick off daily programming that spotlights iconic senior experiences — from “most likely” votes to portrait showcases to senior skip day. Instagram will also roll out new creative tools and features including a graduation countdown sticker, celebratory sticker pack, new AR effects, and a custom hashtag page for #Graduation2020.

And what’s graduation without the music? Facebook and Instagram Stories will also launch a graduation theme for Music Stickers — a list of grad-related songs making it easy to find the perfect soundtrack for the graduation moments people share to their stories.

This year’s graduation will be different than other years, and no doubt memorable because of it. We’re proud of our graduates for all they have achieved — congratulations to the Class of 2020!”

 

For more fun things to do in San Antonio this week, check out the latest issue of Fun10SanAntonio. 

Tess Abney is a freelance writer who was born and raised in the Quad Cities. She spends most of her time attempting to successfully raise three boys. In her free time, writing is her passion. Whether it is sharing local events and businesses with readers or sharing her thoughts on life, she finds comfort in the way words can bring people together.