What’s Going On?
In an exciting turn of events, the Class of 2025 at Academic Magnet may very well have a special guest for their graduation ceremony. Students in Dr. Lupo’s study hall have devised a plan to arrange for a celebrity speaker at the class of 2025’s graduation. As the class of 2025 gets ready to graduate from Academic Magnet, there’s a chance some local celebrities could show up, or even some that might be flown in. Charleston is home to people like Bill Murray and Darius Rucker, and they’re known to be around town. If a few familiar faces make an appearance, it could definitely make the day a bit more interesting and memorable for everyone.
Many names have been mentioned, but here are some of the most exciting proposals:
Evan Eckenrode:
Social media phenom, Evan Eckenrode, previously known as Dwarf Mamba, could show up at Academic Magnet. The Vine star and part of Logan Paul’s vlog squad has been busy since removing himself from the Mamba identity, which he says is a part of his past that he wishes to forget. Evan has acted in the Bloody Bridget movies, produced songs like Mamba Sauce, and learned to ride the unicycle in recent years. Initially Eckenrode responded to our email saying that he would love to come and speak. Tragically, Evan followed up with an email before we could respond, informing us that due to filming a movie in May, he will not be able to make it.
Shin Lim:
Famed magician, Shin Lim, could bring a whole lot of excitement to the ceremony with his dazzling tricks and mesmerizing showmanship. The Canadian American (Han Chinese descent) phenom started doing magic after he was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in 2012. Since then his meteoric rise has seen him win America’s Got Talent and star on Penn and Teller. Lim believes magic should be more of an attempt to create art, rather than to fool people. His booking rate may be very expensive though, however a workaround could be to organize a fundraiser in his name for charity. If this plan works, our ceremony will be more magical than ever.
Marquel “Bubba” Creighton
This fisherman has been fishing in Charleston for years, his favorite spot is on the battery facing Fort Sumter. This phenom is one of the friendliest people you will meet in Charleston. Always giving bait to other people and extending warm greetings toward passers. Bubba is truly a Charleston icon and having him speak at our ceremony would warm the hearts of all who have met him. Formerly a Seal Team member, Bubba wanted out of the violent fast paced military lifestyle and moved to Goose Creek in 2013. Every day Marquel makes the 40 minute drive to the battery in his 1999 Toyota Corolla RAV4 while listening to Fetty Wap; truly living the life.
Danny McBride:
Danny McBride is a comedian, actor, and writer known for his roles in shows like Eastbound & Down and The Righteous Gemstones, which are filmed in Charleston. He’s also been in movies like Pineapple Express and This Is the End. McBride lives in the Charleston area and keeps a low profile when he’s not working. He enjoys the laid-back lifestyle and can often be seen around local spots. Even though he’s famous, he fits right in with the Charleston community. Given his connection to the area and his successful career, he would be a great speaker for the upcoming graduation. His experiences in TV and film would make his speech interesting and entertaining. He could offer advice and share stories that would inspire students as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives, making him a great choice to celebrate this special event.
Gucci Mane:
It was rumored that Gucci Mane graduated from AMHS in 1998, but no evidence exists. The would-be alumni has become an incredibly successful hip hop artist. He has released 71 mixtapes and 16 albums including: The Gooch, The Return of East Atlanta Santa, Trapology, and The Return of East Atlanta Santa 2. We love Gucci Mane, and his inspirational rise from his incarceration to phenom status. Maybe he could even sing Trunk Loaded or Both at graduation.
The Rizzler:
Recently becoming an online phenom, the Rizzler has taken the world by storm. Known for his social media presence, the Rizzler is a young phenom who has gone viral for his cute and pudgy appearance. He’s built a quick following, working with other phenoms such as Big Justice and Big AJ (They bring the BOOM). While he is not a mainstream phenom as much as other phenoms, the young phenom has definitely gained a lot of attention and is by far the best phenom on the list. Maybe, if he comes, we could get other phenoms like Big Justice and Big AJ to come and they could bring some Costco food, even though the Rizzler is not known for his Costco food reviews.
Darius Rucker:
Darius Rucker is a singer and songwriter who first gained attention as the lead vocalist in Hootie and the Blowfish, a rock band that became huge in the nineties. Later on, he became a successful country music artist, releasing famous covers and songs such as “Wagon Wheel.” Born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, Rucker has strong ties to the area and is often seen around town. He’s known for his natural country voice and his success in the music industry, and would be a great addition to the Academic Magnet High School graduation.
Ella Henderson
Ella “Shrimp Boat” Henderson is a local Charleston legend, famous for her being a shrimp captain and the “Queen of Shem Creek.” She gained a bit of local fame a while back due to her likeability and locality to the area. Ella also became known for her appearances in restaurants and bars in the area, where she would be brought to speak about her wild stories on the water. Though she’s not a major celebrity, many people around Charleston know her for her awesome personality, love of fishing, and of course, her shrimp, which are sold at vendors across the city.
Maggie “Grits” Bassinette
Maggie “Grits” Bassinette is a Charleston legend known for her famous food truck, Maggie’s Grits n’ More, which serves up the best shrimp and grits in the Lowcountry. Maggie became well known for her food truck, which serves grits and other lowcountry breakfast items at many events in the city, becoming a well known local figure. Maggie grew up in Charleston, and her success story would make for a great addition to the Academic Magnet High School Graduation.
Lizzie “Gator” Smith:
Lizzie Smith has earned the local nickname of “Gator,” around James Island, West Ashley, and other parts of Charleston. Known for her Gator wrangling capabilities, she frequently visits the aquarium and demonstrates different aspects of the gators, handling them and allowing people to handle the young ones. She became most well known for handling a gator at a public Marina called Ripley Light, keeping it away from the public and relocating it to a safe location all by herself. She now works animal control, handling the gators whenever they are in dangerous areas. Chances are, if you’ve ever called about a gator, she was the one that handled it. She has gained immense respect around the area, and it seems that nearly all locals know of her and her story. We plan to reach out to her if people are interested in her appearance, and it is very likely she would come speak as she loves the area and is very involved with the youth of the community.
SSundee:
SSundee, or Ian Stapleton, is a famous youtuber known for his video game playthroughs, mainly Minecraft but more recently games like Among Us. He has been on YouTube for a while, and has amassed quite a following thanks to his funny commentary and laid back video formats. He is one of the more popular gaming youtubers out there, and would be a great addition to the Academic Magnet High School graduation, especially with his close location as he lives in Summerville. Recently, he has been reached out to, and we will update if we get a response.
Ken Carson
Ken Carson, known for his now viral hip-hop/rap music, has made a serious name for himself. Coming from very few listeners to rapid fame in a short time, his success story is one that people can admire. Right now, he is touring the states and frequently sells out massive arenas for concerts. Ken would be a fantastic addition to our graduation, as he can discuss how he was able to find his own meaning of success and believed in himself, doing what he really wanted in life. Thankfully, we also have an in to Ken Carson through a magnet student by the name of John Peter Lewis Silveston. Hopefully, we will be able to get him to attend and spice up the Magnet graduation. Famous songs include: Rock n’ Roll, Freestyle 2, SS (Sydney Sweeney), Overseas, and many others. Thanks Ken Carson!!
But what do students think?
Students are thrilled about the potential of a celebrity coming to graduation. With the vast majority of students submitting ideas and being excited for the possibility of a celebrity speaking at graduation. From celebrities like The Rizzler, Shrimp Boat, Grits, SSundee, Danny McBride, and many more possibilities, they are hoping to see a celebrity appearance. While there is no general consensus on who seems to be a favorite yet, but there will definitely be polling to find out. From what I can tell so far, people seem to be most excited about Shrimp Boat and Grits. Hopefully, we will be able to convince one of them to make an appearance.
The Class of 2025 at Academic Magnet High School couldn’t be more excited about the chance of having a celebrity at graduation. No one really agrees on who would be the best, but honestly, just having any of these people there would be very cool. The idea of ending high school with a local legend or a viral phenom on stage is awesome. Whoever it ends up being, if we get lucky, it’s going to make graduation a day to remember.
