Former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison inspires RIT graduates with powerful lessons about curiosity and purpose

Rochester, New York – The energy inside Rochester Institute of Technology’s Academic Convocation on May 8 carried the unmistakable feeling of transition. Thousands of students stood on the edge of a new chapter, surrounded by proud families, faculty, and friends, as one of the most groundbreaking figures in American space history delivered a message that stretched far beyond careers and diplomas.

Mae Jemison, the first woman of color to travel into space, challenged graduates to slow down and reconnect with the world around them. Speaking to the Class of 2026, Jemison urged students not to lose their curiosity and sense of wonder as they move into adulthood.

“When I’m at my best, I feel this connection with the greater universe and it’s something that I wish for you throughout your lives,” said keynote speaker Mae Jemison. “Look up from your bills. Look up from laptops. Look up from your cell phones. Just look up at the sky and you will change.”

The ceremony marked a major milestone for Rochester Institute of Technology, which celebrated its largest graduating class in school history. A total of 5,593 students are earning degrees this year, including graduates from RIT’s global campuses in Croatia, Dubai, and Kosovo. The number reflects a sharp rise compared to previous years, with 4,894 graduates last year and just over 4,200 a decade ago.

The convocation also carried symbolic weight for university leadership. It was the first Academic Convocation led by RIT President Bill Sanders, while Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Prabu David served as master of ceremonies.

Read also: Motorist crashes into active work zone on the Thruway in Oneida County causing injuries and damage during early morning travel near Marcy area

The university continued commencement celebrations throughout the weekend with individual college ceremonies, while a separate hooding ceremony recognized 76 doctoral graduates receiving Ph.D. degrees.

Still, much of the attention centered on Jemison, whose life story has long represented determination, intelligence, and possibility. Before becoming globally recognized for her mission aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992, Jemison built careers in medicine, education, and science advocacy. During the STS-47 mission, she served as a mission specialist and conducted scientific experiments in microgravity alongside six fellow astronauts.

Rather than focusing only on achievement, Jemison’s speech emphasized awareness and presence. She encouraged graduates to remain engaged with the world instead of drifting into routine, fear, or emotional detachment. In her view, fulfillment grows from paying attention — to people, to ideas, and to the larger universe itself.

“Look up and remember why you care at all because if you can keep that sparkle in your eye, that dancing energy of aliveness and possibility long past graduation, you will have a life that is well on its way to being magical,” she said. “A life full of love, service, connection, and meaning.”

The message appeared to resonate deeply with the audience. At a moment when graduates face economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, and growing social pressures, the speech offered something more personal than standard career advice. Jemison’s remarks centered on perspective — the ability to stay curious and emotionally connected even in demanding circumstances.

Sanders echoed some of those themes while speaking directly to the responsibilities graduates will carry into the future. He told students that their education had prepared them not only for professional success, but also for ethical leadership and service.

Read also: RCSD and URMC receive community health award for expanding student mental health services and improving care access in underserved school communities across the region

“Success will take many forms in your lives,” Sanders said. “But I hope you measure it not only by positions earned or goals achieved, but by the impact you make—by how you lift others, by how you use your skills to expand opportunity, and by how you help shape a more inclusive, sustainable, and connected world.”

The ceremony also highlighted the growing influence of RIT’s alumni network and the university’s expanding global reach. Student Government President Rafael Gilboa reflected on the challenges students overcame during their academic journeys, praising their resilience through demanding coursework and long nights of study.

“You are joining the ranks of 150,000 alumni, made up of CEOs and inventors and directors and artists and builders and doctors, and now astronauts too,” Gilboa said, referring to Jemison’s honorary degree. “You have earned your place among them.”

Five honorary degrees were awarded during the convocation ceremony, further underscoring the university’s celebration of leadership, innovation, and public service.

As graduates crossed another threshold in their lives, the day’s most memorable moments seemed less connected to statistics or titles and more tied to a simple challenge repeated throughout the ceremony: to keep looking outward. Jemison’s words transformed that idea into something both literal and symbolic — a reminder that ambition matters, but perspective matters too.

For many students leaving campus this spring, the image may linger long after commencement ends: thousands gathered together, preparing to step into uncertain futures, while a former astronaut urged them to pause every once in a while and simply look up at the sky.