Houston Independent School District Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced a first-of-its-kind citywide outdoor celebration planned for graduating seniors.
Students will be invited to return to their campuses in their caps and gowns for the event, which will take place on Friday, June 5, simultaneously outside each HISD high school. All seniors attending will be required to wear face coverings and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
The celebration is the brainchild of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner who will deliver his own words of encouragement to the class of 2020.
“The 2020 high school senior class has achieved a major milestone during what is certainly one of the nation’s most challenging times in recent history,” Mayor Turner said. “They have sacrificed and endured, and I am so proud of every one of them. That is why I have asked the city of Houston, along with some extraordinary personalities to come together to honor these amazing students with a unique and special celebration.”
The centerpiece of the event is a star-studded video tribute from a number of national and local celebrities, from music to sports to food and fashion including:
50 Cent
Astronaut Chris Cassidy
Actress Chandra Wilson
Houston Texan JJ Watt
Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles
Rapper Slim Thug
Country Singer RaeLynn
Houston Astro Carlos Correa
Houston Rockets P.J. Tucker
The Suffers Kam Franklin
Fashion designer Chloe Dao
Saxophonist Kyle Turner
Houston Dynamo and Dash Star players
“On behalf of the HISD Board of Education, our high school principals and approximately 11,000 graduates, we thank the mayor and the City of Houston for planning this wonderful event for the Class of 2020, which has not been able to engage in traditional celebrations due to COVID-19 precautions,” Lathan said.
The event will be broadcast on-air and online by HISD TV and the city’s HTV channel and may also be shown by local television stations.
The ceremony is not a commencement, and no diplomas will be issued to students during the event. To support social distancing, the event is for students and faculty only. Family members will not be able to accompany their students.
For the latest updates and to view teaser videos, go to http://www.Houston2020Seniors.com