Graduation for New York City’s high school class of 2020 will be televised, with a cast of celebrities including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tina Fey.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday that Pix11 will broadcast the pomp and circumstance beginning at 7 p.m. on June 30. The celebrations will also be livestreamed on education department and city social media channels.
“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 in a press release.
As the school year was upended by the spread of the coronavirus, forcing the country’s largest school system to close its buildings in mid-March, districts across the country have had to get creative to send off this year’s graduates. Oprah Winfrey headlined Chicago’s graduation. In Los Angeles graduation’s roster was star-studded with, LeBron James, Pharell Williams, soccer star Megan Rapinoe and more.
New York state approved drive-in or drive-through graduations, with large in-person gatherings still banned because of social distancing requirements.
In New York City, other celebrity speakers will include Pitbull, Kenan Thompson and Nick Kroll, Angela Yee and Andy Cohen. The night will feature student musical performances and recorded messages of support from educators and families.
“There’s never been a senior year like this,” schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said in a statement. “As Chancellor of all New York City Public Schools, and on behalf of all 150,000 staff who make our schools run: I am so proud of you.”
