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.
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)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)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)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)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)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)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)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)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)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)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)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 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)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)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)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)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)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)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)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)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)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 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 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)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)
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