At the College of Charleston 2016 Winter Commencement, NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman urged the graduates to “be part of something bigger than yourself.”

“Be bold. Be fearless. Dream big,” Newman said in  her address. “And don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do something or that you do not belong.”

The College celebrated the accomplishments of more than 300 graduates at the ceremony on Dec. 17, 2016, in TD Arena.

Check out some photos from the ceremony below and see the CofC Facebook page for even more.

Photos by Mark Pelekakis