NewsCoronavirus

Actions

Former President Barack Obama to give virtual commencement address to class of 2020

Former President Barack Obama to give virtual commencement address to class of 2020
Posted
and last updated

Though millions of grads won't get to walk at graduation this year, they'll still have a top-notch commencement speaker.

Former President Barack Obama announced Tuesday that he will be providing virtual commencement addresses for high school and college graduates later this year.

Obama will give three commencement addresses: One for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), one for high school graduates and one for the "Class of 2020" in general.

Two of the speeches —the commencement address for HBCU students and the address to high schoolers — will both take place on May 16 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively. The address to all 2020 grads will take place on June 6 at 3 p.m. ET.

Obama's address to high schoolers is part of #GraduateTogether2020, a one-hour primetime special that will take place on May 16 on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.

"Even if we can’t get together in person this year, Michelle and I are excited to celebrate the nationwide Class of 2020 and recognize this milestone with you and your loved ones," Obama tweeted.

Sign up for our Morning E-mail Newsletter to receive the latest headlines in your inbox.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Thursday

10/23/2025

Clear

-° / 54°

5%

Friday

10/24/2025

Clear

79° / 54°

5%

Saturday

10/25/2025

Partly Cloudy

76° / 54°

6%

Sunday

10/26/2025

Mostly Clear

74° / 54°

8%

Monday

10/27/2025

Clear

71° / 51°

5%

Tuesday

10/28/2025

Clear

76° / 54°

1%

Wednesday

10/29/2025

Mostly Clear

82° / 55°

1%

Thursday

10/30/2025

Partly Cloudy

78° / 55°

1%