college
Beyoncé is adding another ivy to her life. Next year, Yale University will offer a collegiate course studying the multi-hyphenate superstar’s career as it relates to a greater history of Black excellence in art, spanning her 2013 solo debut to 2024’s Cowboy Carter.
Registered as “Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition History, Culture, Theory & Politics through Music,” the spring 2025 class will be taught by Professor Daphne Brooks. As reported by the Yale Daily News Friday (Nov. 8), it’ll focus on the “sonic, fashion and visual media” evolution of Bey — who is mom to eldest daughter Blue Ivy (along with twins Rumi and Sir) and founder of Ivy Park — over the past decade. According to Yale’s course description, “In short, this is a class that traces the relationship between Beyonce’s artistic genius and Black intellectual practice.”
“[Beyoncé] is just so ripe for teaching at this moment in time,” Brooks told the student publication. “The number of breakthroughs and innovations she’s executed and the way she’s interwoven history and politics and really granular engagements with Black cultural life into her performance aesthetics and her utilization of her voice as a portal to think about history and politics — there’s just no one like her.”
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Through examining the 32-time Grammy winner’s career, students will also gain insight into “Black history, intellectual thought and performance” at large, with Bey serving as a jumping-off point for wider discussions on icons such as Josephine Baker, Diana Ross, Betty Davis and Grace Jones. Brooks previously incorporated Beyoncé into her “Black Women in Popular Music Culture” curriculum when the professor was teaching at Princeton, which inspired her to devote an entire class to the star as past students showed “so much energy” around Bey in particular.
The Yale offering is just the latest Beyoncé course to be unveiled at a prestigious university in recent years, part of a broader trend of colleges all over the world dedicating classes to modern artists. A notable uptick in Bey-related studies happened in 2016, around when she released her critically acclaimed album Lemonade; since then, Arizona State, the University of Copenhagen, the University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of Michigan and more institutions have all enshrined Queen Bey in academia in some way or another.
News about the latest Beyoncé class arrived on the same day as the 2025 Grammy nominations, which saw the Destiny’s Child alum earn more nods than any other artist. Among her 11 nominations are song and record of the year for Billboard Hot 100-topper “Texas Hold ‘Em” and album of the year for Cowboy Carter.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Going off to college represents a major life transition, marking one of your first big steps into adulthood. No matter if […]
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Student-led protests on college campuses over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza have led to increased tensions with administrators and arrests.
Protests supporting the Palestinian people in the Gaza region of Israel during the nation’s conflict with the Hamas terror organization on college campuses such as Columbia University in New York City have become highly intense within the last few days. The school is the home of the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” erected last week by student protesters. The protests have riled up those for the Palestinians and those supporting Israel, leading Columbia President Dr. Minouche Shafik to initiate hybrid classes for the rest of the semester, which began Monday (April 22).
“Over the past days, there have been too many examples of intimidating and harassing behavior on our campus,” she wrote in a statement, calling for a “reset” due to the Passover holiday and citing the concerns of Jewish students who said that they were being intimidated by the pro-Palestinian protesters and were hit with antisemitic threats. “Antisemitic language, like any other language that is used to hurt and frighten people, is unacceptable and appropriate action will be taken,” Shafik continued. The Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine group issued their statement, saying that they “firmly reject any form of hate or bigotry” and their criticisms are of Israel’s government.
Tensions at the encampment hit a fever pitch over the weekend as the New York Police Department arrested close to 100 protesters at the encampment, with dozens of students at Columbia and Barnard being suspended and barred from school housing including Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Barnard has since offered an olive branch to those suspended, offering to lift them for students, acknowledging many had “not previously engaged in misconduct.” Republican federal lawmakers and Jewish groups, however, are in opposition to these moves and are calling for stricter punishment and protection of Jewish students.
The spirit of the protests has spread to other colleges – New York University and Yale University also saw encampments go up in solidarity with those at Columbia and Barnard. To date, there are encampments of protesters supporting the Palestinian people at 15 university campuses nationwide. Faculty members at New York University and Yale were arrested after police said they denied requests to leave. There is also a growing shift in public opinion, as polls are showing most Americans disapprove of Israel’s handling of the war that began after Oct. 7, 2023.
More college courses dedicated to Taylor Swift have been added to the academic canon for 2024, including a class at one of the most famous universities in the world: Harvard.
Starting in the spring, both Harvard University and the University of Florida will offer studies on the 33-year-old pop star: “Taylor Swift and Her World” and “Musical Storytelling With Taylor Swift and other Iconic Female Artists,” respectively. Summaries of the courses are already available online.
At Harvard, English department instructor Stephanie Burt will guide students through examinations of fan culture, celebrity culture, adolescence, adulthood and appropriation, as well as approaches to white texts, Southern texts, transatlantic texts and queer subtexts. “We will learn how to think about illicit affairs and hoaxes, champagne problems and incomplete closure,” adds the course description on Harvard’s website, referencing track titles on Swift’s Folklore and Evermore albums.
Meanwhile, UF’s Melina Jimenez will oversee “13 gorgeous weeks of discussing Taylor Swift’s discography, with a focus on her evergreen songwriting,” according to the institution’s similarly song reference-filled course description. Students will also “draw parallels between Swift’s enchanting lyrics and works by other famous female masterminds” while dissecting themes such as “old flames, infidelity, aging and double standards.”
Harvard and University of Florida are just two of the latest schools to offer Swiftian studies, following in the footsteps of institutions such as University of Texas, Arizona State University, Stanford University and UC Berkeley. The fast-growing trend in Taylor-themed classes stems from New York University’s groundbreaking Swift course taught by Rolling Stone writer Brittany Spanos, which was launched early last year. Soon after, the “Anti-Hero” singer received an honorary doctorate from the university and spoke at its spring 2022 commencement ceremony.
The news comes on the heels of Swift closing out her final Eras Tour show of 2023, wrapping up three nights in São Paulo, Brazil, Sunday night (Nov. 26). It’s proven to be a blockbuster year for the 12-time Grammy winner, who picked up six more Recording Academy nominations earlier this month, in addition to winning 10 Billboard Music Awards. She’s also released two albums this year alone – Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) — while also reportedly reaching billionaire status thanks to her global Eras trek and corresponding concert film.
Whether it’s her “Icy” calling card or her “I know that’s right” catchphrase, two-time Grammy-nominated rapper Saweetie has been cementing herself as a branding queen since she first hit the Billboard charts with “Icy Girl” back in 2017. In the years since then, she’s notched a bevy of platinum singles — “Tap In,” “My Type” and “Best Friend” (with Doja Cat), among them — and collaborated with everyone from John Legend to Gwen Stefani.
For her latest partnership, Saweetie has joined forces with Tinder — the dating app used by millions of love-seekers around the world. Dubbed “Swipe-Off,” the collaboration is a nationwide challenge where the college with the most Swipe activity on Tinder wins a free double feature concert headlined by Saweetie and special guest and fellow rapper Baby Tate. “She was definitely one of the top choices and I’m happy she went with us,” Saweetie gushes.
Swipe-Off — which alludes to Saweetie’s “Tap In” lyrics, “You better get the card and make it swipe like Tinder”— is the latest step in a busy year for the “Icy Chain” rapper. Earlier this year, she released a pair of singles titled “Shot O’ Clock” and “Birthday” (with YG & Tyga), the latter of which peaked at No. 16 on Billboard‘s Rhythmic Airplay chart. Before she debuted those two songs, Saweetie also hopped on the remix of Baby Tate’s viral hit “Hey Mickey,” which the pair will “absolutely” perform at the Swipe-Off concert. Just last month, the rapper and USC alumna co-hosted the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards pre-show.
In a lively conversation with Billboard, Saweetie speaks on new music, that VMAs teleprompter gaffe, a return to acting and her dating tips for a Tinder home run.
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What can fans expect to hear and see at your Tinder Swipe-Off concert, should their campus win the competition?
Icy Girls love to have fun, and I’m a college girl, so I would love to bring my energy to whatever campus wins. I think it’s a great way to bring communities together in such a fun and youthful way. I’m jealous too, I wish I was still in college. It’s been some time! I’m really happy to go to the students. I’m happy that they’re excited to see me with my new music. I just dropped “Birthday” and “Shot O’ Clock,” which is doing really well right now. So, I’m excited to see who’s gonna go up because they can expect a really fun show. The surprise is out now, I’m bringing Baby Tate, who is also amazing. So, we’re going to bring all of that!
The focus on college campuses in this Tinder collaborations lines up with your advocacy for education. What are your long-term plans and goals for your ICY Baby Foundation?
My longtime goals and plans is to give back to Black and brown communities, and to come back and to be a living example for what they could become. Whether it’s music, business, education, whatever their heart desires. I want them to know that accomplishing their dream is possible. I think it’s important that somebody who looks like them is coming back and speaking on this, just to give them the fuel they need to engineer their dreams.
My goal is to go back and to inspire and to help them not only learn about financial literacy, but to discover what their passion is. I think that when we used to have career fairs as children, we were often only shown the traditional careers, but it’s 2023-2024. There’s so many more opportunities out there. So, I think it’s important to show them that someone that looks like them did it, and they can do it too.
As you prep for the Swipe-Off concert, what have you found are your favorite songs to perform live?
So there’s two songs. For a popular cut, I love to perform “My Type,” of course. The energy is always so crazy. A deep cut I love to perform is “Back Seat,” it’s such vibe, it’s so special, and it just puts me into this magical trance on stage.
You put out “Birthday” and “Shot O’ Clock” earlier this year, which of the two do you prefer?
I feel like every day is your birthday. I’m the type of person that celebrates my birthday the whole month. So, “Birthday” was really special to me, because I feel like everyone should celebrate life for, if not the whole month, then — I don’t know what’s more dramatic than that — but give me a whole month and I’m good.
What I love about “Shot O’ Clock” is that it’s a triple entendre. It could be alcohol shots, but it could also be like healthy and wellness shots. They could be NBA shots. There could be some type of other shots! [Laughs.] It can go in so many different ways. What made those two songs the perfect combination is that they’re a celebration of life. I’m an Icy Girl, I love to have fun. I like to work hard, but I also like to celebrate hard as well, and I feel like those are what those two songs exhibit.
Those two songs were your first releases (as a lead artist) of the calendar year, why return with those particular tracks?
I think it was all about getting new music out. It was the summertime — you know, summertime is for the girls stepping out, getting ready and having fun — so I think it matched that energy. Now, as far as my next couple of releases, I’m still deciding on what those are, but I just wanted to give the girls something to get ready to and to party to.
In terms of new music, where is your head at sonically? What sounds and styles are inspiring you right now?
I don’t want to give the name of my sound out — because, you know, people be studying and they be stealing, girl. But this music I’m creating…
I literally tell people that I don’t like writing camps. Don’t do any writing camps without me, because I have to be in the room. I produce my own music and I also write my own music. It’s a co-production between me and the creatives, and I think once I put my foot down in that way, the music got so much better. I need to be in the room. My soul and my spirit needs to be in the production. All I can say is when you hear this sound — it’s just gon’ be that Saweetie Sound. So, I’m really excited to share that with the world. It’s that Saweetie Sound, baby, let’s just call it that!
Let’s get into your Tinder history for a bit. When you use the app, do you do so as Saweetie or Diamonté, or are you a lurker?
Honestly, I was a lurker for one day. I was like, “Oh no, this is a new world for me. I gotta come back to this.” But I never came back to it, so I’m excited that I’m actually able to work with them in a bigger way.
What are you green flags and red flags on a Tinder profile?
Green flags are somebody who’s well-traveled, who likes to have fun, who has a job…? A J-O-B. [Laughs.] A job that makes tangible money, not just social currency. A red flag is someone who has no other hobbies besides partying. I think that’s a very one-dimensional personality, and for a girl like me, you need to be multi-dimensional to keep me interested. That’s definitely what I’m looking for: someone who has more to offer than just one side.
What was your approach to dating in college and how does that differ from how you move in the streets now?
I definitely recommend that people shouldn’t be tied down to one person in college, I think college is all about experience — which is why Tinder is great because, you’re able to see what you like and what you don’t like. Hopefully, the girls are out there vetting because we’re the prize. So, who wins the prize? We’re gon’ see!
In the Swipe-Off ad, you were giving us some acting vibes and you’ve done that in the past. Is a return to acting on the table for you in any capacity?
Well, before the writers’ strike, I actually filmed with a really big TV show, so I’m really excited for whenever they decide to release it. I know it’s going to be a huge moment. They stripped me down: no lashes, barely any makeup, I had this wig on! They were like, “No lashes, take ‘em off!” And you know, I’m a lash girl, so I’m just like, “All right, cool. Let’s get into this acting bag, what’s up?!”
Obviously the SAG-AFTRA strike is still ongoing, but could you give fans any hints as to what the show could be?
I’m going to give you one of my lyrics: “Cocaina tiptoes/ Ride it like the whip stole/ Benjis in my bra when my titties need a lift though.” The answer’s in there!
Outside of the Swipe-Off concert, where else can fans expect to see you performing?
That is something we are working on when it comes to this top-secret rollout we’ve been planning, but they gon’ see me outside!
Now, I have to get into the VMAs because obviously everybody had a lot to say. Take me inside your head while you were hosting the pre-show and reading off that teleprompter. Do you have anything you’d like to say to the commenters at home?
I do have a response for that actually. I think a simple response is no matter what happens, baby just keep going. Imma always keep going. I love to motivate. I love to inspire, and because I got back up on that stage, makeup still intact, hair still intact, outfit still intact, still on my Icy Girl ten white toes — I just keep going no matter what happens. That’s all I gotta say about that.
I know your DMs probably be flooded daily, what’s the corniest pick-up line anyone’s ever tried on you? And have you ever used a pick-up line on somebody else?
I think my brand is so strong that the way I’m approached or the way fans — you know, fans shoot their shot — I think I don’t get corny lines cause I think people just know me so well. They be like, “You want some crab legs? You want a Birkin? What you wanna do?” It be cute stuff!
I think that I don’t get corny pickup lines, I get creative pick-up lines. The pickup lines I be getting to see have me laughing. And I think that when people are trying to link on Tinder, make them laugh, be creative, don’t do the “Yo,” “Hey,” “Wassup.” Don’t do the simple stuff. It’s Tinder, baby! Let’s spice it up and let’s have fun in life. It’s something about making the girl laugh. If you could make me laugh, what else can you do?
You puttin’ everyone on game, I know that’s right!
I know that’s right! You know what I love? I love when a man come up to me and they do that line and they go, “I know that’s right.” I be like, “Look at you!” It makes me giggle because to hear a man say it in my tone?! [Laughs.]
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One of the culture’s most preeminent pioneers was celebrated in his hometown this week. Grandmaster Flash has received an honorary degree from Lehman College.
As per HipHopDX, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame member graced the stage at the educational intuition but not behind the turntables. On Thursday, June 1 he attended Lehman College’s 2023 Spring Commencement Ceremony. He was joined by former New York State Rep. José Rivera where both of them received honorary degrees; the DJ received his honorary doctorate in Music.
See an Instagram post here.
Grandmaster Flash spoke to the graduating class and made sure to credit the Bronx for placing him at the birthplace of Hip-Hop.
“We from the Bronx — we are starters, we are finishers, we are very, very important” he stated. “And I must tell you, young people, as you go out into the world, you will probably do what I did… [and] [make] mistakes. I cannot tell you how many mistakes I made before the technique finally came into fruition. I say to young people, as you leave here, you will scrape your knees, [that’s] guaranteed, but we Bronx people, we go hard.”
He closed his speech by saying that this degree is his most special accolade because it was bestowed to him in the Bronx and from a Bronx institution. You can see the ceremony below.
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Photo: Daniel Knighton / Getty
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Graduation season has arrived! The last few years have been challenging for all students, so it makes sense that the class of 2023 has so much to celebrate. When it comes to gift options, you can’t really go wrong with gift cards or a maybe a streaming subscription, but if you’ve been searching for a wider variety of thoughtful, affordable or splurge-worthy gifts, we’ve put together a list of over a two dozen of the best gifts for high school, college grads and more.
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From meaningful keepsakes to must-have gadgets, see our roundup of great gift ideas below.
Amazon
2023 New Graduation Gift Money Holder, DIY Double-Layer Cash Holders with 25 Holes
$13.99 $14.99 7% OFF
Cold, hard cash is a welcomed gift for most (if not all) graduates. This money holder includes more than 25 slots that you can fill up with bills.
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Amazon
Joycuff Graduation Bracelet $11.87 $15.97
Joycuff has snagged over 26,000 positive customer reviews at Amazon, and this personalized cuff is among the fan favorites! The budget-friendly, grad bracelet features an uplifting message and it arrives in a cute little gift box.
Uncommon Goods
The 10-Year Plan Deck
$10
“Life is what happens when you’re making plans,” but it doesn’t hurt to write your goals down anyway. This unique card deck inspires graduates (and anyone, really) to formulate a life plan for the next decade. The deck includes a guidebook, 30 prompts and a journal to track you progress.
Walmart
Beats Studio Buds
$169.95
Beats Studio Buds are now available in a transparent design, in addition to ebony black/gold and ivory. The popular earbuds deliver immersive sound for listening to music but also taking calls and more. The battery lasts for up to 36 hours (27 hours in the case and nine hours outside of the case).
Amazon
Apple iPad (9th Generation): with A13 Bionic chip, 10.2-inch Retina Display, 64GB, Wi-Fi, 12MP front/8MP Back Camera, Touch ID, All-Day Battery Life – Silver
$269.99 $329.00 18% OFF
For the new grad who could use a tablet or notebook. This ninth generation iPad is on sale for less than $300. The device is equipped with a 10.2-inch retina display with an ultra-wide front camera, A13 Bionic chip and a battery that lasts all day for reading, browsing the web, watching videos, streaming music and more.
Personalization Mall
This personalized frame is perfect for commemorating academic achievements. The glass frame features reverse-laser engraving; it measures 8 x 11 inches document and a 4-inch x 6-inch photo — and it’s on sale for $23. Find more frames here.
Best Buy
Sony ZV-1 20.1 Megapixel Digital Camera
$749.99
For the grad who could use a professional camera, Sony’s ZV-1 20.1 megapixel digital camera is perfect for dedicated vloggers and novices. The 4K digital camera captures video and photo, fast-action optical speed and 44x digital zoom. The camera has high-speed, continuous shooting capabilities with 20.1 MP sensor and up to 24 fps of continuous shooting and a three-inch LDC screen.
Coach
Coach Venturer Bag in Signature Canvas
$349 $698 50% off% OFF
You can’t go wrong with a sturdy weekend bag. Designed to keep you organized for short and longer trips, this Coach duffle bag features a removable shoulder strap with ample space inside and a convenient side pocket. Click here for a selection of affordable duffle bags.
Sephora
Replica by the Fireplace
$85
Looking for an affordable cologne? Maison Margiela’s Replica is a unisex fragrance with a large fan following. The “By the Fire” scent features spicy and woody notes of clove oil, chestnut, pink pepper, orange flower and vanilla layered above a woody base.
Nordstrom
Versace Bright Crystal Perfume
$from $32
Have more room in the fragrance budget? Versace’s Bright Crystal Perfume has earned hundreds of positive customer reviews for its fresh and floral scent. Bright Crystal perfume serves up a lovely fruity and floral fragrance featuring pomegranate, lotus flower, peony, vegetal amber, acajou and musk.
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Nordstrom
Cap & Gown Cufflinks
$60
Looking for a gift that’ll go with a cap and gown? Try these silver cuff links shaped like tiny grad caps.
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Amazon
A new adventure begins! Gift a graduate with a motivational bracelet that comes with an inspirational card to help motivate them through this new chapter.
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LJ Jewelry
LeahJessica Hand Cut Name Necklace $175 $
Looking for a more expensive piece of jewelry? Try a personalized necklace like the one featured above LeahJessica Jewelry. The Southern California-based jewelry brand carries necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and other pieces that are perfect for gifting, no matter the occasion. The LJ Hand Cut Name Necklace can be made in rose gold, sterling silver, 14k yellow, white or rose gold and measures approximately 7mm.
Polaroid
Polaroid Go Instant Camera
$89.99 $99.99 10% off% OFF
Life is all about capturing memories, and who doesn’t love a picture-perfect selfie? The pint-sized Polaroid Go instant camera measures 5.9-inches tall and 3.33-inches wide, making it small enough to slip right into a pocket or bag. This pocket-sized camera is available in white, black or red.
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Target
The Bucket List Journal $33.99
It’s never too soon to start checking off that bucket list! This gift-worthy keepsake allows you to keep your adventures in one place. The Bucket List Journal has enough space to document 20 bucket list experiences and it comes packaged in a mini keepsake bag with a foil-printed mini pencil.
Papier
Happy Stripes Wellness Journal
$35
Regardless of whether you’re graduating, retiring or just getting started, finding joy is a key component to happiness. Gift a lucky grad with a wellness journal covered in “happy stripes.”
Marshall Major IV Bluetooth Headphones
$139.99 $149.99 7% off% OFF
For long commutes, studying, working or gaming, headphones make a great gift, and you can usually find a decent pair on sale like these Marshall Major IV Bluetooth headphones, or Beats Solo 3 Wireless Headphones ($129). Both are designed to immerse listeners in rich sound, plus they’re durable and foldable and provide up to 80 hours of battery life.
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Amazon
Crosley Voyager Vintage Portable Turntable $79.95
Vinyl records are still a popular form of music media, so if you know a grad who could use a record player, this vintage-style Crosley Bluetooth turntable is a thoughtful gift item that can be treasured for years to come. It’s also available in a bunch of different colors. See more record players and turntables here.
Calpak
Calpak Luka Laptop Bags
$108
Another nod to the grad who’s going places! Calpak’s Luka Laptop Bag is equipped with padded shoulder straps, multiple compartments, heavy-duty zippers and a luggage sleeve. The bag is available in over a dozen colors including watermelon, khaki, green apple, celery, winter sky, dijon, matte black, chocolate, rose quartz and oatmeal.
Etsy
Personalized Vintage Suitcase
$287.88
Know anyone who needs a nice luggage set? This vintage, personalized suitcase from Etsy includes a matching hat box. The set is available in a handful of colors including pink, blue, green, plaid and floral.
Nixon
Nixon Sentry Chrono Watch
$350
Smart watches are great, but there’s nothing like a classic timepiece. Nixon’s Sentry Chrono watch features a 45mm dial, stainless steel case and double-lock clasp. The watch is available in gunmetal, matte black/gold, gold/blue-sunray, all gold, and all gold/black.
Amazon
MyPupSocks Personalized Graduation 2023 Blanket, 30×40
$16.99
Personalized gifts are the absolute best! This graduation blanket is available in 30 different colors and designs and in five different sizes. The blanket pictured above measures 30 inches x 40 inches.
Best Buy
Sonos Era 300 Speaker
$449
Gift a grad with rich, immersive sound in the form of a 9.85 pound speaker. Sonos Era 300 offers up wall-to-wall sound without taking up too much space. Available in black or white, Era 300 can power through all of your favorite playlists with ease. It’s equipped with dual woofers, four tweeters and compatible with Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Amazon Music. If you’re shopping for a handheld, portable bluetooth speaker, try the Marshall Emberton.
Amazon
Graduation Party Decorations – 2PCs Signature Board for Class of 2023
$12.99 $20.00 35% OFF
The nice thing about this graduation board is that it works as a party favor, a personalized grad gift or a fun alternative to the typical graduation book. The board measures 11 inches x 17 inches and at less than $15, you’ll have room in the budget for a second gift.
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Amazon
I Graduated Can I Go Back To Bed Now T-Shirt Graduation T-Shirt
$19.95
It’s not easy crossing the finish line. Gift your grad with a funny T-shirt that expresses just how it feels to pass all of your classes and walk the graduation stage. This cotton tee is available in 10 different colors and in sizes ranging from S-3X Large.
New Balance
New Balance Unisex 580
$129.99
A fresh pair of kicks for the graduate! New Balance‘s Unisex 580’s features an OG design with a modern upgrade. The retro-style shoe is available in blue and black.
Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Medium Tote Bag
$195
The Tote Bag by Marc Jacobs has an adjustable strap providing convenient carrying capabilities for the roomy canvas tote that folds flat for easy storage or travel. This tote is available at MarcJacobs.com, Nordstrom, Amazon and other retailers.
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Masterclass
Masterclass $15/month $
Yes, it might seem odd to gift classes to a new graduate, but this isn’t your average course! Choose from over 150 classes in categories that include music, wellness, sports & gaming, writing, science & tech, business, arts and entertainment. Mariah Carey, John Legend, Questlove, Christina Aguilera, Gordon Ramsay, Gloria Steinem, Hillary Clinton, Bill Nye, and Lewis Hamilton are some of the popular Masterclass courses available.
Amazon
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M2 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU and 16‑core GPU: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage. Works with iPhone/iPad; Space Gray
$1,935.50
For the post-grad in need of a new computer, MacBooks are among the best. This 2023 model is equipped with a 14.2-inch display screen and the Apple-designed M2 Pro chip offering a faster and more improved CPU, GPU and machine learning performance.
Amazon
Google Pixel 7-5G Android Phone – Unlocked Smartphone with Wide Angle Lens and 24-Hour Battery – 128GB – Snow
$559.99 $599.00 7% OFF
If you happen to know a grad who needs a new smartphone, Google Pixel 7 is worth every penny.
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Walmart
Sony PS5
$489.55
Speaking of gaming, perhaps you know someone who wants a new Playstation? There’s no denying that the PS5 is still one of the hottest consoles on the market. Find more PS5 retailers here and click here to shop TVs on sale.
Amazon
Dowinx Gaming Chair Type LS-6689
$248.18 $289.99 14% OFF
Having the right equipment can vastly improve your game. This gaming chair makes a nice graduation gift for gamers and it’s one of the more affordable, and highly-rated options that you’ll find at Amazon. It features an ergonomic design with an adjustable, swivel seat and a weight capacity of 350 pounds. Find more gaming gift ideas and deal at Amazon’s Gaming Week hub.
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The Final Four field for the Men’s NCAA basketball tournament was set over the weekend with three schools making it to the hallowed quartet for the first time in over 50 years. One of the teams celebrated its first entry into the Final Four, and everything will kick off this coming weekend.
March Madness for both the men’s and women’s teams is an unpredictable affair every year and this tourney was no different. The Elite Eight field was one for the books as not one No. 1 seed advanced that far in 2023 in the men’s division. In fact, brackets were busted on day one of the tournament but few could’ve predicted the outcome of the field like this.
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The University of Connecticut Huskies are in line to win their fifth national championship since 1999. The Florida Atlantic University Owls never had a tournament win ahead of landing in the Final Four over the weekend.
The University of Miami Hurricanes is priming itself to win its first national championship along with celebrating its first Final Four appearance and is the current ACC champion. The San Diego State Aztecs are also in a position to win their first chip.
Florida Atlantic and San Diego State will battle it out on Saturday, April 1 at 6:09 PM EST. The Huskies and the Hurricanes will play at 8:49 PM EST.
Check out the NCAA coverage of the Final Four field here.
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Photo: Getty
Newly minted Warner Music CEO Robert Kyncl and his wife, psychotherapist Luz Avila Kyncl, have signed on for another five years of scholarship support for select computer science and engineering students at their alma mater, SUNY New Paltz.
The five-year-old Robert Kyncl ’95 and Luz Avila Kyncl ’96 Computer Science & Engineering Scholarship Fund is designed to benefit underrepresented students, especially women and minorities, seeking careers in STEM. Each year, at least six new transfer students or current Hawks will be selected for the scholarship, which offsets tuition costs.
The success of the scholarship has led to the creation of a group of alumni called the Kyncl Scholars.
“State education provided us with great opportunities, both professionally and personally, and we want to help more students access those same benefits,” said the Kyncls in a joint statement. “In turn, this talented next generation will help drive change and contribute to a more representative workforce in dynamic industries.”
The Kyncls’ most recent gift also supports the Fund for New Paltz and the AMP/CSTEP (AC²) Program Fund, which provides economic support for a number of traditionally underrepresented students who earn degrees in STEM fields and certain other majors such as Psychology.
SUNY New Paltz is a short drive north of New York City in Ulster County. As the name of the scholarship suggests, Robert graduated in 1995 (International Relations) and Luz a year later (Psychology).
“The Kyncls’ generosity in this area sends an important message to prospective and current students that people in leadership positions believe in their ability to succeed,” said Erica Marks, vice president for development & alumni relations and executive director of the SUNY New Paltz Foundation. “The University is continually evolving to remain competitive in offering high-quality computer science and engineering education that prepares students for their future. Each year, a powerful new cohort of Kyncl Scholars will be equipped with the training to be effective and collaborative contributors in the community.”
Robert Kyncl joined WMG on Jan. 1 after a decade as chief business officer at YouTube and seven years as vp of content acquisitions at Netflix. Read his first interview as CEO here. Luz Kyncl is a longtime licensed psychotherapist, and a certified health coach and mindfulness teacher. She is also the author of Liberate Yourself.
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