Barack and Michelle Obama will virtually deliver commencement speeches to raise the morale of the students who won’t have in-person graduation ceremony this year.
The YouTube special called ‘Dear Class of 2020’ will be hosted on June 6.
According to reports, several “global leaders, celebrities, creators and other voices” will also be participating to make 2020 graduation a memorable event for all grads.
Since the Obamas are receiving “dozens of requests from around the globe,” they have decided to “participate in multiple virtual commencement celebrations for students, families and educators.”
Explaining that the former POTUS and former first lady will deliver inspirational addresses to many schools, colleges and universities separately, a spokesperson stated: “President and Mrs. Obama will share messages of advice and inspiration across multiple platforms.”
On May 16, the former president will show up on “Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020” that will be broadcasted on “all major networks.”
Later on the same day, Obama will also address students in another live-streamed session “Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition.”
Obama and Michelle had delivered hundreds of commencement speeches during their 8-year presidency period.
Now, when proper convocations couldn’t be held due to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 graduates asked them to give televised speeches and make them feel celebrated.
A tweet from a student named Lincoln Debenham went viral as he appealed to Obama, 58, and Michelle, 56, to comfort students by addressing them online on their graduation day.
The 17-year-old claimed that he and his fellows think of Obama as an “icon.”
Speaking to CNN, the teen said: “They got to vote for Barack Obama in mock elections when they were little kids and they got to watch Barack Obama become the first black president and get sworn in while they were in school.”
The senior student of Eagle Rock High School added: “I remember watching that in the classroom and feeling kind of amazed at such a young age and feel like I was a part of history.”
PEOPLE was told by a source that Obama and his wife felt “flattered” by the student’s petition.
“Whether he does or not, it isn’t about that,” Debenham clarified in another tweet. “It’s about someone who speaks for my generation.
“Like Barack Obama was the first President I can remember.
“The classroom mock elections, watching his inauguration in school. That’s what this is about. Hearing that voice of hope again.”
Replaced!