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The first woman of color to go into space reminded the Class of 2026 at Academic Convocation on May 8 to never forget to look up. “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.” A record number of students—5,593—are graduating from RIT this year, including those attending global campuses in Croatia, Dubai, and Kosovo. That’s up from 4,894 students graduating last year and 4,272 a decade ago. Individual college commencement ceremonies honoring the graduates will continue throughout the weekend. A hooding ceremony followed Academic Convocation for 76 people earning Ph.D. degrees who are participating in graduation. Photo Gallery See a photo gallery of the five honorary degree recipients . Five honorary degrees also were awarded at RIT’s convocation ceremony, which was the first one for RIT President Bill Sanders . Prabu David , provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, served as master of ceremonies. Jemison, a physician and educator, drew upon her experiences as a NASA astronaut when addressing the graduates. She accepted her first mission on the STS-47 crew as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, lifting off alongside six other astronauts in September 1992. While in orbit, Jemison conducted experiments that took advantage of the microgravity environment, where objects appear to be weightless. She urged graduates to be fully present in the world—observing and wondering rather than moving through life with the shades down in apathy or fear. Happiness, purpose, and growth come from choosing awareness and integrity, she said. ‌ Carlos Ortiz Mae Jemison, a former NASA astronaut, physician, educator, and the first woman of color to go into space, spoke at Academic Convocation. “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.” Sanders told the graduates they are leaving RIT equipped to lead in times of uncertainty, to innovate responsibly, and to strengthen their communities. He encouraged them to be lifelong learners and ethical leaders. “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.” Student Government President Rafael Gilboa, a software engineering major from Pittsburgh, said graduates have already proven their resilience by surviving RIT’s academic rigor. They are prepared for the future. “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.” Read more The full text of the speech by RIT President Bill Sanders is available.