Barack Obama to speak at virtual commencement
Former President Barack Obama will be the commencement speaker at LeMoyne-Owen College’s virtual commencement on Saturday, May 16. LeMoyne-Owen is one of 78 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) participating in the “Show Me Your Walk” ceremony.
The commencement will air at 2 p.m. Saturday on JP Morgan Chase’s social media platforms, Essence Studios and HBCU Connect on Facebook. Chase, along with The Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the United Negro College Fund, are the event’s sponsors.
The commencement will also feature speakers and performers, including financial expert Mellody Hobson and comedian Kevin Hart.
“While we are disappointed that we are unable to recognize our students’ accomplishments with the traditional pomp and circumstance, we are pleased that this option is available to them to celebrate themselves,” Carol Johnson Dean, LeMoyne-Owen interim president said, in a statement. “We thank the generous partners involved in this effort for recognizing HBCU graduates, specifically, and we plan to celebrate with an in-person commencement ceremony once it is safe to gather together again in large crowds.”
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