Houston Independent School District graduating seniors will gather outdoors on their high school campuses in their caps and gowns on Friday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate during a citywide event spearheaded by Mayor Sylvester Turner in collaboration with HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan.

Celebrities scheduled to deliver videotaped tributes include astronaut Chris Cassidy, actress Chandra Wilson, Houston Texans player JJ Watt, Astros player Carlos Correa, fashion designer Chloe Dao, MasterChef winner Christine Ha, Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and rappers 50 Cent and Slim Thug.

Defender invites graduating high school and college seniors to be spotlighted

“The 2020 high school senior class has sacrificed and endured, and I am so proud of every one of them,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

The celebration will take place outdoors simultaneously on HISD high school campuses and in four other area school districts.

This event is an opportunity for students to be recognized for successfully completing their high school careers and persevering during the pandemic.