Cue the pomp and circumstance! Former President Barack Obama, Pierce Brosnan and more stars were proud parents at their kids’ 2023 graduation ceremonies.
Obama, 61, attended his daughter Sasha’s graduation from the University of Southern California on May 12, alongside his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and their eldest daughter, Malia, 24. The 21-year-old student transferred from the University of Michigan to USC in 2022 and earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology.
In addition to her cap, gown, stole and cords, Sasha sported white and purple leis, possibly as an homage to Hawaii, the state her father was born in 1961. Her family members looked just as stylish as Barack complimented Michelle’s black dress by sporting a slick, gray suit. Malia, meanwhile, paired her nude and lilac dress with thin green heels.
Earlier that month, Brosnan, 70, commemorated his and wife Keely Shaye Smith‘s youngest child Paris’ college graduation via Instagram.
“Dearest Paris, Heartfelt congratulations on your graduation from Loyola Marymount University School of Film & Television,” the GoldenEye actor captioned a pic of himself and Smith, 59 — with whom he also shares son Dylan, 26 — posing with the graduate on May 6. “Go into the world with a brave heart and create stories that will make the world a better place.”
Brosnan also shares son Sean, 39, with late wife Cassandra Harris. He is also the stepfather of her two kids with ex-husband Dermot Harris, Christopher, 50, and Charlotte, the latter of whom died at the age of 41 from ovarian cancer in 2013.
Many fans shared their congratulations in the post’s comments section, including Brosnan’s former Mamma Mia! costar Amanda Seyfried. “Time is crazy. This is so wonderful!” the Golden Globe winner 37 — who shares two kids with her husband, Thomas Sadoski — wrote at the time.
Teresa Giudice, meanwhile, celebrated her firstborn daughter Gia‘s college graduation from Rutgers University. “I am so proud of my devoted and intelligent daughter, Gia, for graduating [from] a stellar university, a huge milestone to accomplish in life,” the Real Housewives of New Jersey star captioned an Instagram pic of herself and Gia, 22, from her May 14 graduation ceremony.
The Bravo reality star went on to call her daughter’s achievement “one of the most special moments in my life.” Gia earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and wants to be a lawyer after her dad, Joe Giudice, was deported to his native Italy in 2019.
Teresa continued: “You definitely paved the path of success for your sisters, and you are an inspiration to them and me. I am so excited to see what your future holds. You have always been a leader and a determined individual. Your attributes are admirable, and I have no doubt that you will do anything less than reach for the stars. I love you to infinity and beyond!💗🎓.”
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Scroll below to see which other stars celebrated their kids (and grandkids’) 2023 graduations:
Credit: Courtesy of Eden Wood/Instagram
Stars Whose Kids Graduated in 2023: Barack Obama, Pierce Brosnan and More
Cue the pomp and circumstance! Former President Barack Obama, Pierce Brosnan and more stars were proud parents at their kids’ 2023 graduation ceremonies.
Obama, 61, attended his daughter Sasha’s graduation from the University of Southern California on May 12, alongside his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and their eldest daughter, Malia, 24. The 21-year-old student transferred from the University of Michigan to USC in 2022 and earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology.
In addition to her cap, gown, stole and cords, Sasha sported white and purple leis, possibly as an homage to Hawaii, the state her father was born in 1961. Her family members looked just as stylish as Barack complimented Michelle’s black dress by sporting a slick, gray suit. Malia, meanwhile, paired her nude and lilac dress with thin green heels.
Earlier that month, Brosnan, 70, commemorated his and wife Keely Shaye Smith‘s youngest child Paris’ college graduation via Instagram.
“Dearest Paris, Heartfelt congratulations on your graduation from Loyola Marymount University School of Film & Television,” the GoldenEye actor captioned a pic of himself and Smith, 59 — with whom he also shares son Dylan, 26 — posing with the graduate on May 6. “Go into the world with a brave heart and create stories that will make the world a better place.”
Brosnan also shares son Sean, 39, with late wife Cassandra Harris. He is also the stepfather of her two kids with ex-husband Dermot Harris, Christopher, 50, and Charlotte, the latter of whom died at the age of 41 from ovarian cancer in 2013.
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Many fans shared their congratulations in the post’s comments section, including Brosnan’s former Mamma Mia! costar Amanda Seyfried. “Time is crazy. This is so wonderful!” the Golden Globe winner 37 — who shares two kids with her husband, Thomas Sadoski — wrote at the time.
Teresa Giudice, meanwhile, celebrated her firstborn daughter Gia‘s college graduation from Rutgers University. “I am so proud of my devoted and intelligent daughter, Gia, for graduating [from] a stellar university, a huge milestone to accomplish in life,” the Real Housewives of New Jersey star captioned an Instagram pic of herself and Gia, 22, from her May 14 graduation ceremony.
The Bravo reality star went on to call her daughter’s achievement “one of the most special moments in my life.” Gia earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and wants to be a lawyer after her dad, Joe Giudice, was deported to his native Italy in 2019.
Teresa continued: “You definitely paved the path of success for your sisters, and you are an inspiration to them and me. I am so excited to see what your future holds. You have always been a leader and a determined individual. Your attributes are admirable, and I have no doubt that you will do anything less than reach for the stars. I love you to infinity and beyond!💗🎓.”
Scroll below to see which other stars celebrated their kids (and grandkids’) 2023 graduations:
The Toddlers and Tiaras alum’s daughter Eden Wood celebrated graduating high school as valedictorian on May 20.
“Alumni Status,” Eden wrote via Instagram alongside a series of images from the ceremony. “#Valedictorian #classof2023 #graduated #edenwood #highschoolgrad #ontocollege.”
The former Yankees player celebrated daughter Natasha, whom he shares with ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis, graduating from high school graduation on May 20.
“Yesterday was bittersweet. Tashi, I can’t make time stand still, so my wish for you is to go out in the world with confidence, knowing your worth and believing in yourself,” he wrote via Instagram alongside photos of his family from the big day. “As you move on from one chapter to the next, I’m most proud of who you are as a person. Honest, kind, compassionate, intuitive and wise beyond your years. As your father, I’m supposed to be your role model. But for the last 18 years, you’ve been mine. Proud of you always! Love, Daddy 💙.”
“I’m so proud of her. She is our 2023 graduate and yes we was [sic] hollering the whole time. WTG LANA,” the TLC personality wrote via Instagram on May 20, sharing footage from daughter Alana’s ceremony. “AND YALL KNOW I SCREAMED WORK IT SMOOCHIE ONE LAST TIME. … WE WERE ALL HOLLERING THE WHOLE TIME.”
The exes attended son Mingus’ graduation from New York University in May.
The Live With Kelly and Mark cohosts celebrated their daughter Lola’s graduation from NYU on May 17.
Barack, Michelle and Malia Obama attended Sasha’s graduation from the University of Southern California on May 12, during which she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
The Black Adam star and Smith’s youngest child, son Paris, began to follow in his father’s entertainment footsteps by graduating from Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film & Television.
The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip alum gushed about Gia’s educational achievement via Instagram on May 15, calling her daughter’s graduation from Rutgers University “one of the most special moments in my life.”
The President and First Lady Jill Biden supported his grandaughter, Roberta “Maisy” Biden, 22, at her graduation from the University of Pennsylvania on May 15. Maisy’s dad, Hunter Biden, was in attendance at the ceremony, along with his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle and their daughters, Naomi, 29, and Finnegan, 22.
Princess Salma of Jordan graduated from the University of Southern California on May 12, at which she was supported by her royal parents, King Abdullah and Queen Rania.
“So proud to celebrate my Salma’s graduation yesterday from the University of Southern California,” the queen captioned pics from Salma’s big day via Instagram. “I can’t wait to see what you do next. Congratulations!”
The Real Housewives of New York City alum called her and ex-husband John Adam Morgan’s daughter Quincy’s college graduation “the proudest day of my life” in a May 16 Instagram post.
“My darling daughter graduated Summa Cum Laude at The University of Penn 👩🎓,” the Bravo star captioned a pic of the 22-year-old sporting a voluminous white dress and olive green heels. “I would say best of all she’s happy and happens to be a well rounded, kind and humble young woman with great aspirations. All this fused with innate talent 💕 👩🎓 📚 💐 🖼️ ✈️ 🍱 🥂.”
On May 18, the “You Sang to Me” artist shared a video of his 22-year-old son Cristian graduating from college.
“I love my kids to the moon and back and we get to celebrate you today,” Anthony, 54, captioned the clip of Cristian — whom he shares with ex-wife Dayanara Torres — walking on the stage to receive his diploma.
Anthony’s Instagram upload also featured pics of him, Torres, 48, and their son Ryan, 19, posing for pics with the graduate.