Graduating USAFA cadet Lauren Blackwelder is locked in a tight hug by her sister, Shelby, and parents, Todd and Janet Blackwelder after a Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The graduation ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Graduating USAFA cadet Lauren Blackwelder is locked in a tight hug by her sister, Shelby, and parents, Todd and Janet Blackwelder after a Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The graduation ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Clad in their dress uniforms, cadets skydive onto the field before the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The graduation ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)The Graduation Parade was held the day before graduation at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The graduation ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)The Graduation Parade was held the day before graduation at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The graduation ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Clad in their dress uniforms, cadets pose for a photo op after skydiving onto the field before the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The graduation ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)A cadet gets a big hug after skydiving into the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)A cadet flies a glider into the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Cadets move a glider off the field after it flew in with ornamental smoke into the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)One of the performing Falcon flies into into the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)One of the performing Falcon flies into into the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)One of the performing Falcon flies into into the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)The B-2 Stealth Bomber flies over the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)The B-2 Stealth Bomber flies over the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)The saber team entertains the crowd at the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Scenes from the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Scenes from the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Friends and family run across the field to find their cadets after the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Friends and family run across the field to find their cadets after the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Friends and family run across the field to find their cadets after the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Friends and family run across the field to find their cadets after the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Cadets, originally from Nigeria, are greeted by friends and family after the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
