PHOTOS: 2025 Air Force Academy Graduation

By Stephen Swofford 05/29/2025 | updated 11 months ago

Cadets enthusiastically throw their hats into the air even though the usual hat toss scene was missing the Thunderbirds Thursday, May 29, 2025, during the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Thunderbirds didn’t fly due to inclement weather. Around 900 cadets graduated at the Academy. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

Rain and the grounded Thunderbirds doesn’t dampen the Class of 2025 celebration at Falcon Stadium.

A graduate celebrates as he walks back to his seat after receiving his diploma during the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Stephen Swofford, The Gazette)

Graduates march in formation to their seats at the start of the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Stephen Swofford, The Gazette)

Luca Valenti, left, and Rylie Anderson replace one another’s epaulettes after swearing their oath of office at the end of the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Stephen Swofford, The Gazette)

Troy E. Meink, Secretary of the Air Force, delivers the graduation address during the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Stephen Swofford, The Gazette)

An international student from Tunisia waves their country’s flag during the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Stephen Swofford, The Gazette)

A cadet wipes seats clean before the start of the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Stephen Swofford, The Gazette)

Cadets throw their hats at the end of the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Stephen Swofford, The Gazette)

A kid catches a hat thrown into the audience at the end of the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Stephen Swofford, The Gazette)

Family members keep themselves warm and dry in the cloudy weather during the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025.(Stephen Swofford, The Gazette)

Graduates line up in the north tunnel before the start of the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Stephen Swofford, The Gazette)

Graduates celebrate as they prepare to walk the stage and receive their degrees during the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Stephen Swofford, The Gazette)

An international student from Niger waves his country’s flag during the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Stephen Swofford, The Gazette)

Graduates celebrate at the base of the stage after receiving their degrees during the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025.(Stephen Swofford, The Gazette)

Crowds settle in for a cold, wet day at the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcons Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. At first umbrellas weren’t allowed, but as the forecast grew more dismal, umbrellas were allowed. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Crowds settle in for a cold, wet day at the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcons Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

A cadet from Senegal waves his country’s flag while international students are introduced during the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Around 900 cadets graduated at the Academy on Thursday in rainy, gloomy weather. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

Cadets celebrate after crossing the stage to receive their diplomas during the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Around 900 cadets graduated at the Academy on Thursday in rainy, gloomy weather. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

The family of cadet Matthew Kleczynski came from New Jersey to cheer for him during the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Around 900 cadets graduated at the Academy on Thursday in rainy, gloomy weather. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

Cadets practice chest bumps before crossing the stage to receive their diplomas during the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Around 900 cadets graduated at the Academy on Thursday in rainy, gloomy weather. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

A cadet celebrates after crossing the stage to receive their diplomas during the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Around 900 cadets graduated at the Academy on Thursday in rainy, gloomy weather. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

Graduating cadet Hunter Marquez pumps his fist after getting his diploma during the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Marquez graduated with academic distinction. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

Graduating cadet Hunter Marquez fist bumps with a fellow cadet during the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Around 900 cadets graduated at the Academy on Thursday in rainy, gloomy weather. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

A cadet runs by the crowd while celebrating after the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Around 900 cadets graduated at the Academy on Thursday in rainy, gloomy weather. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

The 2025 class at the United States Air Force Academy march in at the beginning of the ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Just over 900 cadets graduated at the Academy on Thursday in rainy, gloomy weather. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

The family of graduating cadet Luke Kuklis cheer him during the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Around 900 cadets graduated at the Academy on Thursday in rainy, gloomy weather. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

Cadets sing the Air Force song right before the hat toss at the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Around 900 cadets graduated at the Academy on Thursday in rainy, gloomy weather.(The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

Graduating cadet Matthew Kleczynski does a selfie with his family that came from New Jersey to cheer for him during the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Around 900 cadets graduated at the Academy on Thursday in rainy, gloomy weather. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

Graduating cadet Alaynee Hawley tries her hat onto to her little sister, Azaylea Hawley, after the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

The 2025 class at the United States Air Force Academy march into Falcon Stadium for their graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Just over 900 cadets graduated on a rainy, gloomy day. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

Graduating cadet Tri Nugroho from Indonesia waves his flag when international students are introduced during the Air Force graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) (Jerilee Bennett,The Gazette)

Stephen Swofford

Reporter

After internal strategy sessions, Colorado Senate to take up $46B budget debate

Marianne Goodland

marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 9 minutes ago

Tax Day carries added weight at the state Capitol this year, as the Senate prepares to take up the 2026‑27 budget on Wednesday following a day of preparations by both Republican and Democratic caucuses. Senators are expected to raise some...

Colorado’s childcare contribution tax credit bolsters our economy by keeping programs afloat | PODIUM

Colorado Politics

colorado-politics@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 12 hours ago

By Mike Kehoe, Lisa Steven and Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer Colorado parents are struggling to find childcare, programs that serve our most vulnerable families are stretched thin, and private philanthropy has never been more critical. Since it was first enacted in...

Colorado Supreme Court weighs trans rights case involving Children’s Hospital and federal threats

Michael Karlik

michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 13 hours ago

Some members of the Colorado Supreme Court expressed discomfort on Tuesday with having to decide whether to order Children’s Hospital Colorado to resume providing certain services to transgender children, which could trigger a “death sentence” if the federal government imposes...

Senate Democrats outline amendment strategy as budget debate nears

Marissa Ventrelli

marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 17 hours ago

Members of the Colorado Senate met with their respective caucuses on Tuesday to discuss the state’s proposed $46.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which passed through the House over the weekend following lengthy debate. The full Senate will begin...

Colorado business leaders, Gov. Jared Polis send warning as companies pack their bags

Mark Samuelson Special to The Denver Gazette

mark.samuelson@denvergazette.com

Updated 13 hours ago

Is Colorado scaring away corporate expansions and entrepreneurs that had once made the state a magnet for high-tech business growth? That’s the assertion of a letter signed by more than 200 business and technology leaders, addressed to Gov. Jared Polis,...

Colorado justices weigh constitutionality of unique disclosure requirement for ballot measures

Michael Karlik

michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com

Updated 21 hours ago

Members of the Colorado Supreme Court considered on Tuesday whether a unique feature of the state’s campaign finance system categorically violates the First Amendment by requiring the disclosure of a ballot measure committee’s legal representative on advertisements. No on EE...

Appeals court shuts down Boasberg contempt inquiry into Trump administration over El Salvador deportations

Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner

kaelan.deese.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com

Updated 22 hours ago

A federal appeals court on Tuesday ordered an end to U.S. District Judge James Boasberg’s criminal contempt inquiry into Trump administration officials over last year’s deportations of Venezuelans to El Salvador, delivering a second major rebuke to Boasberg and foreclosing...

Colorado marijuana regulators pledge crackdown on intoxicating hemp

Christopher Osher

chris.osher@gazette.com

Updated 22 hours ago

Citing potential tax avoidance, ‘serious risk to public safety,’ Marijuana Enforcement Division warns companies about swapping illegal chemically converted hemp for marijuana This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with The Denver Gazette. Colorado regulators announced...

Redistricting battle narrows for US House as states seek partisan edge in November elections

David A. Lieb

david.a..lieb@associatedpress.com

Updated 23 hours ago

The battlefield is narrowing and the timeline is tightening in a congressional redistricting contest among states seeking a partisan advantage ahead of the November midterm elections. The end of Maryland’s legislative session this week marked the demise of Democratic efforts...

Redistricting battle narrows for US House as states seek partisan edge in November elections

David A. Lieb

david.a..lieb@associatedpress.com

Updated 23 hours ago