Astronaut to Graduates: ‘Today Is Your Liftoff’

With a faraway Earth and twinkling stars on a jumbotron behind her, former NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps M.S. ’94, Ph.D. ’00 encouraged graduates of the University of Maryland to “light your fires and launch your rockets” during its annual Commencement ceremony on Thursday.

Epps spent 235 days in 2024 on the International Space Station as a flight engineer after years of preparation and collaboration with colleagues, and she urged the Classes of 2025 and 2026 to build a similar support system as they embark out into the world.

“We don’t launch alone,” said Epps, who set the record for the longest continuous space mission by an African American woman. “Choose your team. Choose your mentors. Be of value to those around you.”

Students, families and friends responded with applause—under ponchos, as a chilly rain fell on SECU Stadium—during a shortened ceremony that conferred more than 13,000 degrees earned in August and December 2025 and May 2026: an estimated 9,198 bachelor’s degrees, 3,396 master’s degrees and 653 doctorates.

UMD President Darryll J. Pines praised the grads’ hard work, ingenuity and fearlessness. “We are so proud of how you faced up and persevered through every challenge,” he said.

Student speaker Jason Laucel Coulson ’26 called out his father—a refugee from El Salvador whose hands bore callouses during years of carpentry—and instructed fellow grads to look at their own hands. “Think about what they’ve done to get you here,” he said—perhaps working long shifts or caring for family members.

“With these hands, we are all builders,” he said, calling on classmates to serve. “Builders of trust. Builders of access. Builders of community.” 

Other highlights included the bestowing of honorary degrees upon Courtney Clark Pastrick, former president and board chair of the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; and legendary sports broadcaster and “Voice of the Terps” Johnny Holliday. In addition, Noora Ghahremani ’26 was recognized as university medalist, the highest honor bestowed on a graduating UMD senior each academic year.

The unseasonable weather didn’t diminish the energy of the ceremony, which culminated in tassel-turning and fireworks as Testudo revved up the crowd and graduates danced while “Golden” and “Turbulence” pumped out over the loudspeakers. But Epps provided the most firepower with a speech about chasing dreams through setbacks.

[Alumna Blasts Into Space]

She dedicated her address to her twin sister, Janet Epps Smith Ph.D. ’98, who died three months ago and “was just as curious about the world as I am.”

She challenged UMD’s newest alums to channel their own curiosity as they navigate toward their stars.

“It is your turn,” she said. “Today is your liftoff.”