LAKELAND, Fla. – Parents of high school graduating seniors are thinking outside of the box, trying to figure out ways to celebrate their children’s accomplishments, considering many may not have a traditional graduation ceremony.

  • Many seniors will not have a traditional graduation ceremony this year
  • Khalil Milliner's mom surprised him with a graduation billboard
  • Lakeland Outdoor Advertising is offering free graduations ads while space is available

In Lakeland, Khalil Milliner was one of the lucky ones. His mom, Lori, stumbled upon an opportunity to get his graduation announcement on a billboard for free. 

Lori was delivering for Shipt. One of her customers happened to work for Lakeland Outdoor Advertising and also had a son who was a senior at McKeel Academy of Technology, where Khalil attends. The two texted back and forth about how disappointed they were with the ending of their sons’ senior year and then Lori said the woman surprised her. 

“She said you did such a good job doing my order today and I would like to do something for you and would it be ok if we put your son up on the billboard. What mother would say no to an offer like that?” Lori Milliner said. 

The two women still have never met face-to-face. 

Lori decided to surprise her son. When she showed him the billboard on U.S. Highway 98 near the Dairy Queen in Bartow, he was shocked. 

“I was like woah,” Khalil said. “It’s crazy.”

Khalil was the captain of the basketball team and hopes to play in college. He fears his May 19 graduation ceremony won’t happen due to the pandemic. 

“It sucks because I worked this entire 12 years to get to this point and not being on stage is a huge let down,” he said. 

The charter school has secured alternate dates for the ceremony in June and July.    

Not only is Khalil on the billboard in Bartow, but he's also on a billboard on US Highway 98 in north Lakeland. 

“For them to give back to the community this way, is just awesome. I mean these are the times when we see what the community is about. And it's been beautiful to see all that everybody is doing to pull together to make sure these kids know that we are proud of them and we’re celebrating their accomplishments,” Lori Milliner said. 

Lakeland Outdoor Advertising is offering free high school graduate ads for a day as long as space remains available. ​