Rap superstar and Michigan native Eminem surprised more than 230 graduates of Flint Community Schools at their commencement ceremony Tuesday by presenting them with a special gift: a new set of Beats by Dre headphones for each one of them.
MLive reports that as the graduates prepared to cross the stage and receive their diplomas, Eminem’s picture was flashed on four screens at the Dort Event Center as his voice boomed from the public-address system.
“What’s up, Class of 2017? This is Eminem. I just want to say congratulations to the graduating seniors of Flint Northwestern, Flint Southwestern and Flint Accelerated Learning Academy,” the rapper said. “Congrats to all your guys’ hard work, man. You earned this moment.”
Flint Schools Superintendent Bilal Tawwab told MLive that the entire thing was Eminem’s idea: He and his Marshall Mathers Foundation reached out to the school district with the idea. It’s the second time the rapper and his foundation have helped Flint students. In August 2016, he gave more than 240 backpacks filled with supplies to students at Flint’s Freeman Elementary School.
“I commend him for being very genuine, not really looking for all the attention, media hype, just really doing something for kids,” Tawwab said. “We’re really excited to be able to surprise them this evening [with the gift].”
Read more at MLive.