GraduationWelcome to Graduation Week 2012!
17-23 May 2012
17-23 May 2012
Welcome to your United States Air Force Academy! Graduation Week activities for the USAFA Class of 2012, the 54th Graduating Class and the General Henry "Hap" Arnold Class will commence on Thursday, 17 May, and end Wednesday afternoon, 23 May 2012 with the Graduation Ceremony and an exciting demonstration from the USAF Thunderbirds in the skies over Falcon Stadium. The following information is provided to assist you in planning your trip and coordinating with your cadet.
You may download a printable copy of the Graduation Schedule of Events and Graduation Brochure. These and other .pdf formatted files can be viewed and printed using the free Adobe ® Acrobat ® Reader which can be downloaded by following this link to the Adobe Web Site.
If you have questions or comments about Graduation Week, please feel free to e-mail special.events@usafa.edu. Also, please take a look at the extensive collection of Grad Week photos from the Class of 2011 on the USAFA website at http://www.usafa.edu/cadetFocus/cadetPhotos/2011/grad.
Graduation Dates
The Class of 2012 will graduate on 23 May 2012, the Wednesday prior to the Memorial Day weekend. We have invited the President of the United States to speak.
The Academic Calendar for class year 2012/2013 has been approved. Graduation for the Class of 2013 will be the Wednesday following the Memorial Day Weekend (29 May 2013). At this time we do not know the graduation date for future classes: it will be either the Wednesday before or after the Memorial Day weekend. As soon as these dates are determined, we will post them on this website. Grad week information will be e-mailed to parents/guests who register via the Graduation Registration site (registration will be active by 1 April 2012). There is no restriction as to who can register, however you must have your cadet's name and email address to verify the registration. You will receive an email with attachments, including the Graduation Week brochure, schedule of events, Superintendent welcome letter, parking pass and event flyers (click here to download all attachments). All items may be printed at home. If you are not able to print the items or do not have access to the internet, please ask your cadet to print the documents and send them to you or provide them upon your arrival. Please make sure to coordinate your visit closely with your cadet, as he/she will need to pick up your graduation ceremony and reception tickets.
Registration is primarily to provide information to you on Graduation Week activities. It also allows us to collect an estimate of the total numbers of guests, but we do not require updated registrations if your number or information changes. When registering, please make sure to identify any individuals in your group who may be in a distinguished visitor status (such as general officers, active or retired; high-ranking elected officials; international high-ranking individuals; heads of state; celebrities; or others that may be considered of DV stature).
Throughout Grad Week, you may enter the base via the North Gate by showing your driver’s license or a military ID. You may also be asked to show proof of insurance and a valid vehicle registration. All vehicles entering the base are subject to inspection/search by security personnel. Guests should refrain from bringing large bags, coolers, backpacks or other items that will require additional scrutiny or searches from security personnel. If you are driving a rental car, please keep the rental agreement and current proof of insurance in the vehicle at all times. Note that seatbelts must be worn by all vehicle occupants at all times when driving on the Academy. The parking pass identifies your vehicle as belonging to a USAFA visitor – please print the pass in color or on blue paper and place it in your driver's side dash. Remember that the pass does not get you on base – you must show a valid driver's license or military ID to enter the base. All non-DOD visitors must enter through the North Gate.
USAFA does not issue handicapped or special parking passes, so please bring your own handicapped placard in order to access the handicapped parking lot (immediately north of Stillman Parade Field) and the handicapped parking at the stadium on graduation day. If you do not have a handicapped placard, you may speak with the parking attendant to be allowed to park in the handicapped lots. Handicapped shuttles will operate throughout the Cadet Area during Grad Week – we ask that no more than one guest accompanying the handicapped individual.
Please make sure to follow all posted speed limits when driving on the base. Drivers may not use handheld cellular phones while the vehicle is in motion. If you need to make or take a call, please use a hands-free device or pull to the side of the road. Also, be aware that radar detectors are not permitted on base. Finally, keep in mind that wildlife such as deer, elk and wild turkeys can be a hazard while driving on the Academy. Please be alert for them and drive carefully. Remember, they have the right-of-way!
If Force Protection Conditions (FPCONs) change due to world events or events closer to home, some scheduled events may change or require additional security precautions for the safety of all our guests. Any event changes will be advertised in local media and on the message boards at the base entry gates.
If you have a medical, fire or police emergency, please call 911 immediately. There are several major medical facilities in Colorado Springs to handle medical situations: Memorial Hospital Central, (719) 365-5000, Memorial Hospital North, (719) 364-5000, Penrose-St. Francis, (719) 776-5000, and St. Francis Medical Center, (719) 571-1000.
Throughout Grad Week, we appreciate your vigilance to ensure the safety of our cadets and visitors. Your help in the detection and reporting of criminal activities will ensure that this year’s graduation is a success. Anyone observing suspicious behavior or activity is urged to promptly report it to USAFA Security Forces at (719) 333-2000 or 333-4100. REMEMBER, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!
Cadets will receive as many ceremony tickets as they require for their guests. Please make sure you are coordinating with your cadet so he/she can get the appropriate number of tickets and provide them to you on your arrival.
In the event of severe, life-threatening weather or security response to a high-threat world situation, the ceremony could be moved into Clune Arena at the Cadet Field House. Because Clune has limited seating capacity, guests of graduating cadets would be restricted to three per cadet. For this reason, we make every attempt to hold the graduation ceremony outdoors in Falcon Stadium, even in less than ideal weather conditions. Graduation announcements for the Class of 2012 may be ordered from the CB Announcements website at http://www.cbgrad.com or you may call (800) 433-0296. You may order the 2012 USAFA Graduation DVD, photographs of your cadet receiving his/her diploma and the 2012 POLARIS Yearbook through the Office of Cadet Wing Media. The DVD includes every graduate, Graduation Week activities excerpts and Class of 2012 bonus material. This DVD is the only graduation product officially sanctioned by the USAF Academy. Click here to order your 2012 Polaris yearbook and/or Graduation DVD.
Prestige Portraits by Lifetouch has been contracted to provide professional photographs of your cadet at the Graduation Ball and at the Graduation Ceremony. The contract photographer will mail proofs to each graduating cadet’s home of record within six weeks after graduation with instructions for purchasing these photographs. If you do not receive a proof from the photographer, please contact Lifetouch directly. Click here to order Graduation ball & ceremony photos. For more information call (800) 426-9533 or write to Lifetouch, 1170 Pontiac Ave, Cranston, RI 02920, Attn: AFA Grad.
You may contact Cadet Wing Media by calling (719) 333-4644, sending an email to cwmedia@usafa.edu or writing to 10 FSS/FSLAM, P.O. Box 6066, USAFA CO 80841-6066. Visit their web page at http://www.usafasupport.com/cadet-activities/cadet-media.
You may download a printable copy of the Graduation Schedule of Events and Graduation Brochure. These and other .pdf formatted files can be viewed and printed using the free Adobe ® Acrobat ® Reader which can be downloaded by following this link to the Adobe Web Site.
If you have questions or comments about Graduation Week, please feel free to e-mail special.events@usafa.edu. Also, please take a look at the extensive collection of Grad Week photos from the Class of 2011 on the USAFA website at http://www.usafa.edu/cadetFocus/cadetPhotos/2011/grad.
Articles on this page (click on article below; to return to the index, use the back arrow):
Graduation Dates
Grad Week Information and Registration
Grad Week Security
Cadet Graduation Ceremony Tickets
Graduation Announcements
Graduation Photos, Video and Yearbook
Graduation Dates
Grad Week Information and Registration
Grad Week Security
Cadet Graduation Ceremony Tickets
Graduation Announcements
Graduation Photos, Video and Yearbook
Graduation Dates
The Class of 2012 will graduate on 23 May 2012, the Wednesday prior to the Memorial Day weekend. We have invited the President of the United States to speak.
The Academic Calendar for class year 2012/2013 has been approved. Graduation for the Class of 2013 will be the Wednesday following the Memorial Day Weekend (29 May 2013). At this time we do not know the graduation date for future classes: it will be either the Wednesday before or after the Memorial Day weekend. As soon as these dates are determined, we will post them on this website. Grad week information will be e-mailed to parents/guests who register via the Graduation Registration site (registration will be active by 1 April 2012). There is no restriction as to who can register, however you must have your cadet's name and email address to verify the registration. You will receive an email with attachments, including the Graduation Week brochure, schedule of events, Superintendent welcome letter, parking pass and event flyers (click here to download all attachments). All items may be printed at home. If you are not able to print the items or do not have access to the internet, please ask your cadet to print the documents and send them to you or provide them upon your arrival. Please make sure to coordinate your visit closely with your cadet, as he/she will need to pick up your graduation ceremony and reception tickets.
Registration is primarily to provide information to you on Graduation Week activities. It also allows us to collect an estimate of the total numbers of guests, but we do not require updated registrations if your number or information changes. When registering, please make sure to identify any individuals in your group who may be in a distinguished visitor status (such as general officers, active or retired; high-ranking elected officials; international high-ranking individuals; heads of state; celebrities; or others that may be considered of DV stature).
Throughout Grad Week, you may enter the base via the North Gate by showing your driver’s license or a military ID. You may also be asked to show proof of insurance and a valid vehicle registration. All vehicles entering the base are subject to inspection/search by security personnel. Guests should refrain from bringing large bags, coolers, backpacks or other items that will require additional scrutiny or searches from security personnel. If you are driving a rental car, please keep the rental agreement and current proof of insurance in the vehicle at all times. Note that seatbelts must be worn by all vehicle occupants at all times when driving on the Academy. The parking pass identifies your vehicle as belonging to a USAFA visitor – please print the pass in color or on blue paper and place it in your driver's side dash. Remember that the pass does not get you on base – you must show a valid driver's license or military ID to enter the base. All non-DOD visitors must enter through the North Gate.
USAFA does not issue handicapped or special parking passes, so please bring your own handicapped placard in order to access the handicapped parking lot (immediately north of Stillman Parade Field) and the handicapped parking at the stadium on graduation day. If you do not have a handicapped placard, you may speak with the parking attendant to be allowed to park in the handicapped lots. Handicapped shuttles will operate throughout the Cadet Area during Grad Week – we ask that no more than one guest accompanying the handicapped individual.
Please make sure to follow all posted speed limits when driving on the base. Drivers may not use handheld cellular phones while the vehicle is in motion. If you need to make or take a call, please use a hands-free device or pull to the side of the road. Also, be aware that radar detectors are not permitted on base. Finally, keep in mind that wildlife such as deer, elk and wild turkeys can be a hazard while driving on the Academy. Please be alert for them and drive carefully. Remember, they have the right-of-way!
If Force Protection Conditions (FPCONs) change due to world events or events closer to home, some scheduled events may change or require additional security precautions for the safety of all our guests. Any event changes will be advertised in local media and on the message boards at the base entry gates.
If you have a medical, fire or police emergency, please call 911 immediately. There are several major medical facilities in Colorado Springs to handle medical situations: Memorial Hospital Central, (719) 365-5000, Memorial Hospital North, (719) 364-5000, Penrose-St. Francis, (719) 776-5000, and St. Francis Medical Center, (719) 571-1000.
Throughout Grad Week, we appreciate your vigilance to ensure the safety of our cadets and visitors. Your help in the detection and reporting of criminal activities will ensure that this year’s graduation is a success. Anyone observing suspicious behavior or activity is urged to promptly report it to USAFA Security Forces at (719) 333-2000 or 333-4100. REMEMBER, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!
In the event of severe, life-threatening weather or security response to a high-threat world situation, the ceremony could be moved into Clune Arena at the Cadet Field House. Because Clune has limited seating capacity, guests of graduating cadets would be restricted to three per cadet. For this reason, we make every attempt to hold the graduation ceremony outdoors in Falcon Stadium, even in less than ideal weather conditions. Graduation announcements for the Class of 2012 may be ordered from the CB Announcements website at http://www.cbgrad.com or you may call (800) 433-0296. You may order the 2012 USAFA Graduation DVD, photographs of your cadet receiving his/her diploma and the 2012 POLARIS Yearbook through the Office of Cadet Wing Media. The DVD includes every graduate, Graduation Week activities excerpts and Class of 2012 bonus material. This DVD is the only graduation product officially sanctioned by the USAF Academy. Click here to order your 2012 Polaris yearbook and/or Graduation DVD.
Prestige Portraits by Lifetouch has been contracted to provide professional photographs of your cadet at the Graduation Ball and at the Graduation Ceremony. The contract photographer will mail proofs to each graduating cadet’s home of record within six weeks after graduation with instructions for purchasing these photographs. If you do not receive a proof from the photographer, please contact Lifetouch directly. Click here to order Graduation ball & ceremony photos. For more information call (800) 426-9533 or write to Lifetouch, 1170 Pontiac Ave, Cranston, RI 02920, Attn: AFA Grad.
You may contact Cadet Wing Media by calling (719) 333-4644, sending an email to cwmedia@usafa.edu or writing to 10 FSS/FSLAM, P.O. Box 6066, USAFA CO 80841-6066. Visit their web page at http://www.usafasupport.com/cadet-activities/cadet-media.
Graduation Event Info Line:
(719) 333-4723 (GRAD)
(719) 333-4723 (GRAD)
HQ USAFA/PA, Media Relations
Contact Info:
Contact Info:
Email:media.pam@usafa.edu
Telephone: (719) 333-7731
333-7795
Fax: (719) 333-4094
HQ USAFA/A8A, Plans, Programs & Institutional Events
Contact Info:
Contact Info:
Email:special.events@usafa.edu
Telephone: (719) 333-3451 / 0837
DSN: 333-3451 / 0837
Fax: (719) 333-4309
Fax: DSN 333-4309
US Mail: 2304 Cadet Dr, Suite 3800 USAF Academy, CO 80840-5002
