Cass Technical High School, known as one of Detroit's most prestigious and highest-performing schools, has confirmed Emmy & 2x NAACP Image Award winning talk show host and alumna Loni Love as the 2020 Virtual Commencement Speaker.

At the opening of The REAL's Wednesday show from home, Loni Love could be seen proudly wearing a green and white Cass Tech shirt. Immediately, many alumni showed school pride by posting screenshots of their fellow alumna across social media. The day before, Cass Alumni page tweeted...

Technicians. Tune it it @therealdaytime and catch Cass Tech alumna @LoniLove rocking her Cass Tech gear. Listen up for a very special announcement. 💚💚💚

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.#casstech #casstechalumni #secondtonone https://t.co/I1mvKSk6eT

— Cass Tech Alumni Association (@casstechalumni) May 13, 2020

Love opened up Girl Chat discuss with a story about John Krasinski, creator of Some Goods News, who partnered with Oprah, Steven Spielberg and Jon Stewart to offer advice to some lucky 2020 graduates who wouldn't have commencement ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"First of all, I have to make an announcement," paused Love.

"I will be giving a virtual commencement to my alma mater, for my high school, Cass Tech in June. It will be my first commencement speech."

Cass Tech's principal, Ms. Phillips, expressed that she was so overjoyed to view such great news shared nationally. "Watching the announcement on the tv, really made my quarantine," said Ms. Phillips.

As a proud CT graduate, the talk show host is really looking forward to sharing her journey with the technicians [student graduates]. In her upcoming memoir, I Tried To Change So You Don't Have To, the alumna opens up about her life growing up in the Brewster Douglas Housing Projects of Detroit during the crack era. The Brewster Projects was home to living legend, Diana Ross, who is also a graduate of Cass Technical High School. On The REAL, Love shows a photo of Diana Ross and The Supremes walking down street by the projects.

The memoir chronicles Love's journey of homelessness, graduating from Prairie View A&M University, working at General Motors, becoming a stand-up comedienne, talk show host and Emmy Award Winner. The life lessons throughout the book highlights learning to resist the pressures of conformity, loving yourself for who you are, embracing your flaws, and unlocking your true potential.

For many of the students, Love's story in some way will hit very close to home for them. The native Detroiter has a passion to encourage youth to be who they are and strive for excellence.

Cass Technical High School Virtual Commencement is scheduled mid-June 2020.

UPCOMING DATES

Loni's Girlfriend Check-In with special guests Tami Roman, B. Simone and Robbi Rogers is scheduled to air May 23, 2020 on The Oprah Winfrey Network.

The Emmy winning talk show host is excited about her highly anticipated, "I Tried to Change So You Don't Have To" book. An inspiring, hilarious memoir about learning to resist the pressures of conformity, love yourself for who you are, embrace your flaws, and unlock your true potential is set to release June 23, 2020 (pre-order today).

"I Tried to Change So You Don't Have To" is available for pre-order at www.LoniLoveBook.com.