Social Walls for Education: Enhancing Student Events & Celebrations

Imagine hundreds of graduates crossing the stage while pictures of them and their peers are appearing instantly on screens throughout the venue as it’s happening. This is the power of social walls at educational events.

Parents often capture photos of their students and then they never get seen again, they just stay on their phone. Instead, they could immediately be shown on a live feed celebrating the students for everyone there to see.

Schools and universities are discovering that social walls—dynamic displays that aggregate social media content in real-time—can transform single-day events into memorable, interactive experiences. From graduation ceremonies to homecoming games, these digital displays capture and share the energy of the moment while it’s happening.

What Makes Social Walls Perfect for School Events

A social wall pulls together posts from Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and other platforms into one cohesive display. For educational institutions, this means turning any event into a shared experience where everyone can participate.

Unlike traditional digital signage for long-term campus use, event-focused social walls are designed for immediate impact. They’re quick to set up, easy to customize for specific occasions, and create instant connections between attendees.

Key features that make social walls ideal for education events include:

• Real-time content updates that capture moments as they happen
• Multi-platform support including Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and direct submissions
• Moderation controls to ensure appropriate content displays
• Custom branding to match school colors and event themes

Graduation Ceremonies That Everyone Remembers

Graduation represents the culmination of years of hard work. Social walls help capture every angle of this milestone event.

Making Graduates Feel Special

Set up displays in the venue lobby showing congratulatory messages from family, friends, and faculty. Create a unique event hashtag like #ClassOf2025Eagles and watch as photos, well-wishes, and memories flood the screens. Students see their achievements celebrated in real-time, creating an atmosphere of shared accomplishment.

Engaging Remote Family Members

Not everyone can attend graduation in person. Social walls bridge this gap by displaying messages from distant relatives and friends who submit their congratulations online. Grandparents across the country can share their pride, making graduates feel supported even from afar.

If the event is live streamed, many schools will show the social wall as a lower third directly on the video feed, and if it’s not live streamed, they can embed the social wall on their website.

Student Events and Celebrations

Prom and Grad Nights

Transform these milestone celebrations with interactive displays that showcase the night’s best moments. Students love seeing their photos appear on screens throughout the venue. Consider these approaches:

• Photo opportunities: Position screens near photo backdrops where students can immediately see their pictures displayed
• Memory sharing: Encourage seniors to post throwback photos with current ones using your event hashtag
• Live voting: Run contests for best dressed or most creative promposal, with results updating throughout the night

Orientation Week Activities

Help new students connect during orientation by displaying ice-breaker questions, campus tips from upperclassmen, and welcome messages from student organizations. Social walls turn typically overwhelming first days into opportunities for connection and discovery.

Athletic Events and School Spirit

Nothing builds school spirit quite like game day. Social walls amplify this energy by bringing everyone into the action.

During basketball games, display fan photos and messages of support on arena screens during timeouts. For outdoor sports, portable displays near concession areas keep the crowd engaged even when they step away from their seats.

Create pre-game excitement by featuring player spotlights, team statistics, and predictions from students. Post-game, celebrate victories (or show support after losses) by highlighting the best moments and crowd reactions from the event.

Academic Conferences and Symposiums

Educational conferences benefit from social walls that facilitate networking and knowledge sharing.

Research Presentations

At student research symposiums, use social walls to:

• Display abstracts and key findings between presentations
• Share attendee questions for Q&A sessions
• Highlight notable quotes from speakers
• Create networking opportunities by showing attendee introductions

Professional Development Days

For teacher training events and administrative conferences, social walls keep discussions flowing beyond individual sessions. Participants can share insights, resources, and contact information that remain visible throughout the event.

Alumni Events That Strengthen Connections

Alumni weekends and reunions thrive on nostalgia and new connections. Social walls excel at both.

Class reunion displays can rotate between historical photos submitted by alumni and current snapshots from the event. Set up decade-specific hashtags (#Warriors1990s, #Warriors2000s) to organize content by graduating class.

Fundraising galas benefit from displaying donor recognition, auction items, and campaign progress in real-time. When attendees see donation milestones reached during the event, it creates momentum for additional giving.

Making Setup Simple for Busy Event Coordinators

School event coordinators juggle countless details. Social walls shouldn’t add complexity to your plate.

Quick Implementation Steps

Start by choosing your event hashtag at least two weeks before the event. Promote it through:

• Email invitations
• Event programs
• Signage at registration tables
• Social media announcements

Select which platforms to monitor based on your audience. High school events might focus on Instagram and TikTok, while alumni gatherings could prioritize Facebook and LinkedIn.

Content Moderation Made Easy

Everwall’s moderation features let you review posts before they go live or set up keyword filters for automatic screening. This ensures only appropriate content appears on your displays while maintaining the spontaneous feel of live social sharing.

Maximizing Your Education Plan Investment

Schools using Everwall’s All Access for Education plan can create unlimited social walls throughout the academic year. This means every department, club, and organization can leverage social walls for their events without worrying about additional costs.

Consider establishing templates for common event types:

• Athletics template with team colors and mascot graphics
• Academic template with formal branding for conferences
• Celebration template with festive designs for proms and graduations
• Fundraising template optimized for donor recognition

Measuring Event Success

Track engagement metrics to demonstrate the value of social walls at your events:

Participation rates: Compare the number of contributors versus total attendees

Content volume: Monitor posts per hour to identify peak engagement periods

Reach metrics: Calculate total impressions across all shared content

Sentiment analysis: Review post content to gauge attendee satisfaction

These insights help refine your approach for future events and justify continued investment in engagement technology.

Tips for Different School Levels

Elementary Schools

Focus on parent engagement during school plays, science fairs, and field days. Keep displays family-friendly with approved photos from designated photographers mixed with parent submissions.

Middle Schools

Balance student creativity with appropriate oversight. Consider student moderators (supervised by staff) who help curate content for dances and talent shows.

High Schools

Embrace student-led content creation while maintaining clear guidelines. Social walls at sporting events, theatrical productions, and senior celebrations become student-driven narratives of their experiences.

Universities

Leverage social walls across diverse events from freshman orientation to doctoral defenses. Different departments can maintain their unique voice while contributing to the broader campus community.

Building Lasting Connections

Social walls do more than display content—they create shared experiences that bond communities. When students, parents, alumni, and staff see their contributions valued and displayed, they feel more connected to the institution.

These connections extend beyond single events. The content captured during graduation, homecoming, or conferences becomes part of your school’s digital history. Archive these moments for yearbooks, promotional materials, and future anniversary celebrations.

Every educational institution has unique traditions and values. Social walls adapt to highlight what makes your school special while fostering the engagement that brings your community together. Whether you’re planning next week’s basketball game or next year’s commencement ceremony, social walls ensure no moment goes uncelebrated.