Jostens enhances “virtual commencement” programs, closes Visalia plant

GaryPageau ,
GRAMMY winning singer/songwriter Lori McKenna is partnering with Jostens to celebrate this year’s Class of 2020.

Jostens  is partnering with GRAMMY-winning songwriter and recording artist Lori McKenna to recognize her soon-to-be-released song as the official song of the Class of 2020. The song, scheduled for national release May 1, will be featured in Jostens free on-line “Virtual Commencement Centers”.

Jostens Virtual Commencement Centers have been designed for the high school and college markets, and deliver exclusive digital tools to help school leaders plan and execute a graduation ceremony on-line, in the event their traditional commencement events are canceled due to COVID-19. Both are provided at no cost to schools or families.

McKenna, a mother of a Class of 2020 high school graduate, was inspired by the company’s efforts to recognize this year’s graduates despite the challenges the COVID-19 crisis has created for schools, including closures, delays, and the threat of canceled commencement ceremonies.

“As a songwriter, but even more as a mom of a high school senior, I’m so honored to offer up a song for the Class of 2020,” said McKenna. “I love that Jostens is making a special salute to this year’s high school and college graduates.  It’s an unprecedented time and these graduates deserve the best celebration possible.”

McKenna is an industry-leading songwriter and performer, who in 2016 became the first woman ever to win the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year two years in a row thanks to co-writing Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” and penning Tim McGraw’s no. 1 “Humble and Kind” solo.

In other Jostens news, the Visalia Times-Delta is reporting the company will close its Visalia plant by Oct. 15, idling 110 employees.

In a letter to staff obtained by the Times-Delta, company leaders say the COVID-19 crisis is to blame for the closure:

“This plant closing and mass layoff is a result of unforeseen business circumstances, namely, an acute and unexpected loss of business for Jostens’ products on a nationwide scale due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the letter reads.