Education Webinars & Events

Tips for Hosting Your Zoom Graduation

Here are tips from our Virtual Graduation How-To Guide on executing your Zoom graduation & celebrating the Class of 2020.

3 min read

Updated on September 26, 2022

Published on May 27, 2020

In this blog

01 Use the webinar platform - Jumplink to Use the webinar platform
02 Highlight each graduate - Jumplink to Highlight each graduate
03 Add the special digital touches - Jumplink to Add the special digital touches
04 Shoot the moon on a guest speaker - Jumplink to Shoot the moon on a guest speaker
05 Think outside the celebration - Jumplink to Think outside the celebration

Alison Coleman

Social Media Marketing Specialist

We know graduation ceremonies are looking a little bit different this year, but they can still be special. So we’ve created a Virtual Graduation How-To Guide with technical and non-technical tips to help students, faculty, and family around the world carry out their graduation celebrations in a memorable way. Here are a few thoughts on executing your graduation over Zoom and celebrating the Class of 2020 during this unprecedented time.

To ensure the celebration goes as smoothly as possible, we recommend using Zoom Webinars to manage the audience experience and control who is seen and heard during the event. Hosts can easily elevate a principal, dean, school president, valedictorian/salutatorian, guest speakers, and even each student as their name is read as panelists for their parts. You can also collect registration of graduates and guests who will be attending, and livestream to Facebook Live and YouTube so family and friends can be part of the celebration.

Example graduation program using Zoom Webinars:

Processional music: Host computer shares computer sound with music playing Invocation: (Panelist) Salutatorian speech: (Panelist) Valedictorian speech: (Panelist) Presentation of Graduates/ Diplomas: Screen share slide show from host computer Acceptance of Class: School admin (Panelist) Keynote speaker: (Panelist) Benediction: (panelist) Recessional: Host computer shares computer sound with music playing

Create a slide for each graduate for the presentation of the class and diplomas. Include the graduate’s name, photo, accomplishments, college they’ll be attending (for high schoolers), and other info and show the slide as the student’s name is read so family and friends can enjoy the highlight.

Create a slide for each graduate

Prior to the event, ask the graduates to send videos, photos, or GIFs to share during the ceremony and create an unforgettable send-off. Some fun ideas include:

Virtual backgrounds with your school logo
A 10-second video recounting a favorite memory from their time in school
A GIF of students moving their tassel or throwing their cap in the air

Invite a memorable guest speaker to give a commencement speech virtually. With travel not a factor, you might have luck getting a celebrity to appear via Zoom. You never know until you ask! Check out this “Some Good News” clip on graduations featuring some very special guests: https://youtu.be/IweS2CPSnbI?t=357 And imagine telling your kids and grandkids about the time Will Ferrell spoke at your virtual graduation:

Someone special dropped in to say congratulations. #USCGrad #2020Trojan pic.twitter.com/Eb33QvJivg
— Carol Folt (@PresidentFolt) May 15, 2020

Create a graduation event landing page with streaming information, and add links to download customizable backgrounds, photo frames, and specialized graphics to share. And be sure to share a #Graduation hashtag for students to capture the celebration on social media. Access our guide for more tips on hosting your Zoom graduation:

Download the guide

For more ideas on how to host a memorable event using Zoom Webinars, visit our support page or register for Zoom webinars training.