Monmouth University Class of 2011 Graduates

Monmouth University graduates had a day to remember as they participated in the university's 78th commencement ceremony at PNC Bank Arts Center on Wednesday.

The roof of the center guarded the almost 900 graduates from the torrential downpour outside as they prepared to receive their degrees and move on to the next stage of their lives.

Another person who received a degree was NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden Jr. who delivered the commencement address to the graduates and was given an honorary degree.

Bolden is a former astronaut, as well as a retired U.S. Marine Corps major general. In 2009, he was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as the 12th administrator of NASA, becoming the first African-American to serve in the position.

Bolden gave a wonderful speech and told the graduates "this is a very special day for you.

"Today is about the future," Bolden said. "I hope you can carry some of what's in your hearts today into the job search."

Bolden spoke about his amazing career with NASA, which included traveling into orbit four times  and participating in the first joint U.S.-Russian shuttle mission.

He compared space to the upcoming job and career search for young graduates.

"Space is a harsh environment," he said. "Getting there is hard, and staying there is even harder."

He instructed the graduates to "dream big" and do what they want to do after they graduate.

"You have an incredible opportunity to make a difference in this world," Bolden said.

After Bolden's speech, Monmouth University President Paul Gaffney, who attended the U.S. Naval Academy with Bolden in 1964, called the speech "maybe the most heartfelt" of all commencement speeches.