Natalia Bryant, oldest daughter of late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, graduated from high school on Friday. Her mother, and Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, was in tow cheering her daughter on.
Vanessa posted the proud moment of Natalia getting her diploma on her Instagram page. The video shows Natalia’s name being called as Vanessa and others in the audience cheer on in the outdoor graduation ceremony for the seniors of Sage Hill High School of Newport Coast, California.
The caption of the video read, “Congratulations Natalia! We will ALL be with you every step of the way.” Natalia will be attending the University of Southern California (USC) in the fall and adorned the college’s logo on her cap during the graduation ceremony.
READ MORE: Natalia Bryant celebrates USC acceptance with mom Vanessa: ‘I got it!’
In addition to graduating, Natalia also received the school’s Compassion Award, which was presented to her via a video post by a Sage Hill employee.
“A Sage Hill student with compassion is one who has sincere empathy and dedication to those around them, along with sensitivity toward the impact of their endeavors,” the employee stated. “No matter what is happening to her in her own life, she exhibits grace and empathy toward others. The positive energy she exudes on a daily basis is infectious.”
Vanessa posted the video, writing the caption, “This made me tear up. Mommy and daddy are so proud of you.”
Her graduation came months after she was part of another important ceremony for her family: her father’s induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Natalia was on hand with Vanessa as Kobe was enshrined into the Hall of Fame on his first year of eligibility. Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash with daughter Giana and seven others on January 26, 2020, was selected to the Hall of Fame that April, as reported by theGrio. Natalia put on her father’s Hall of Famer jacket as he was announced to the Hall on May 15, as seen on ESPN.
READ MORE: Vanessa, Natalia Bryant star in Mother’s Day short film and campaign
Natalia, however, was absent the following day during Vanessa’s acceptance speech on behalf of Kobe. Vanessa said that Natalia was attending her senior prom that day and didn’t want her to miss it.
“When I was a senior in high school, Kobe and I were engaged and he had a playoff game the night of my prom,” Vanessa posted on Instagram. “Kobe didn’t want me going to prom without him and I didn’t want to go without him. When we heard Natalia’s prom night and Kobe’s Hall of Fame night were on the same night, I looked at Natalia and said, ‘Well if it’s any consolation, daddy kept me from going to my prom, so it’s only right that he tried to keep you from going to yours.'”
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