The year 2020 presented unique challenges for school and college leavers, with traditional graduation ceremonies largely replaced by virtual celebrations. In response, numerous brands and retailers introduced special promotional offers, free samples, and trial programmes to honour the achievements of the Class of 2020. These initiatives spanned multiple categories, including food and beverage, apparel, beauty, and household goods, providing graduates with opportunities to access complimentary products or significant discounts. This article details the verified offers available to 2020 graduates, outlining eligibility criteria, redemption processes, and key terms based on the provided source material.
Food and Beverage Freebies and Offers
The most prominent category for 2020 graduate promotions was food and beverage, with several major chains offering free items or substantial discounts to celebrate this milestone.
Krispy Kreme offered a highly publicised freebie for the Class of 2020. On Tuesday, 19th May 2020, high school and college seniors could collect a dozen free doughnuts from participating Krispy Kreme shops. To qualify, graduates were required to visit a Krispy Kreme store wearing their graduation cap and gown, or other attire clearly themed for the Class of 2020. No purchase was necessary to redeem this free offer. The promotion was valid for residents of the USA, as specified in the source data. Additionally, Krispy Kreme provided a 20% discount to customers with a valid school ID, though the specific dates for this discount were not detailed in the provided chunks.
Chipotle implemented a two-part promotion for graduates. Between 21st May and 30th June 2020, the first 5,000 customers who purchased a graduation-themed gift card received a coupon code for a free entrée, valid with the purchase of any other entrée. Concurrently, Chipotle ran a contest on Instagram where students could enter for a chance to win a $25,000 scholarship. The source material does not specify whether this scholarship contest was limited to US residents or had other geographic restrictions.
Jack in the Box offered two free tacos to graduates through its mobile app. This promotion was valid from 20th May through 26th May 2020. The offer required any purchase made via the app, indicating that the free tacos were not entirely without a transaction.
Edible Arrangements provided a unique social media-driven offer. The company gave away 2,020 free Celebration Dipped Fruit Delights to graduates. To claim one, interested graduates were required to post a video on social media using the hashtag #EdibleMoments, include their name, and explain how they planned to celebrate their graduation. The source material does not clarify the selection process for the 2,020 winners or the timeframe for claiming the prize. For non-graduates, Edible Arrangements offered a 20% discount on all graduation-themed gifts purchased between 14th May and 5th June 2020.
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse extended a complimentary offer to graduates from its opening date through 28th June 2020. Graduates could receive a free 11-ounce filet mignon with the purchase of any two entrées. The source material notes that customers "may be asked to show proof of graduation," though it does not specify what constitutes acceptable proof.
Yogurtland announced a promotion for graduates in 2021, though the source material is from 2020. According to the provided data, on 21st June 2021, recent high school and college graduates could obtain a free 8oz cup of frozen yogurt with their choice of toppings by wearing their cap and gown or showing proof of being a 2021 graduate. This suggests the offer was planned for the following year.
Retail and Apparel Discounts
While not offering free samples, several apparel and retail brands provided significant discounts to students and graduates in 2020. These discounts often required a valid student ID or enrolment verification.
Amazon Prime offered a free trial of Amazon Prime for six months to high school seniors. After the trial period, graduates could sign up for a student account at a reduced rate of $6.49 per month. The source material specifies this as a US offer, with no mention of a UK equivalent or alternative.
Adidas provided a 15% discount plus free shipping to eligible individuals.
Aerie and American Eagle both offered a 20% discount to students.
Aeropostale extended a one-time 15% discount to U.S. students.
Ann Taylor offered 60% off with a specific code (SUMMER), valid until 24th May 2020.
ASOS provided a 10% discount on full-priced purchases for students.
Other brands with student or graduate discounts listed in the source material included Alex and Ani (15% on select accessories), Allen Edmonds (15% on regular-price products), Alternative Apparel (20% discount), ASTR the Label (30% off with a specific code), and Ardene (10% discount).
Food and Beverage Discounts
In addition to the free food offers, several restaurant chains provided percentage-based discounts to students and graduates, typically requiring a valid student ID.
Arby’s offered a 10% discount to students with valid ID. Applebee’s provided a 10% discount with a valid school ID. Buffalo Wild Wings offered a free shareable meal for every $10 minimum purchase for college students from select universities. Chick-fil-A gave a 10% discount on select orders. Dairy Queen offered 10% off at participating locations. Dog Haus provided a $5 discount on orders of $15 or more. Freshly offered a 15% student discount code for the first four orders only. Harry & David provided a 20% discount. Home Chef offered 50% off. McDonald’s gave a 10% discount on select orders at participating restaurants. Pizza Hut offered 10-20% on select orders for students who could show a valid ID. Shipt offered 50% off first same-day grocery shipping and a free two-week trial. SmartSweets provided a 10% discount on orders of $30 or more with a specific code.
Other Categories and General Perks
The source material also mentions discounts in other categories, though specific free sample or trial programmes for graduates in beauty, baby care, pet products, health, or household goods are not detailed in the provided chunks. The listed apparel and food discounts represent the primary focus of the promotional offers for the Class of 2020.
It is important to note that all offers detailed in the source material are based on 2020 promotions. The geographic scope, as specified, is predominantly the United States, with specific mentions of U.S. student discounts and offers valid for residents of the USA. There is no information provided regarding the availability of these or similar offers in the UK or other regions.
Conclusion
The Class of 2020 was recognised with a variety of promotional offers, primarily centred around free food items and percentage-based discounts across food, beverage, and apparel sectors. Key offers included free doughnuts from Krispy Kreme (with specific attire), a free entrée with gift card purchase from Chipotle, and free tacos with an app purchase from Jack in the Box. Social media engagement was a requirement for the Edible Arrangements free fruit delight giveaway. Numerous other brands offered student discounts, though these typically required a valid student ID and were not entirely free. All information is derived from promotional material published in 2020, and the offers were largely specific to the United States. Consumers seeking similar opportunities should consult current brand websites and official promotional channels for the most up-to-date and region-specific information.