VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE NAMED COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER FOR U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY CLASS OF 2026 GRADUATION

 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — The U.S. Air Force Academy is honored to announce that Vice President JD Vance will serve as the speaker for the Academy's commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at Falcon Stadium.

Vice President Vance was sworn into office on Jan. 20, 2025. He previously served as a U.S. Senator from Ohio and is a Marine Corps veteran who served on active duty from 2003 to 2007.

The Class of 2026 graduation marks the Academy's 68th commencement ceremony, where more than 900 cadets will commission as officers in the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. The Air Force Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform a flyover at the conclusion.

The ceremony will be open to ticket-holding members of the public. Tickets for the general public will be distributed through local chambers of commerce and partner organizations beginning May 20. Details on ticket distribution, base access, parking, and the full graduation week schedule are available at usafa.edu/graduation. The ceremony will also be livestreamed at usafa.edu/graduation and on the Academy's official YouTube channel.

Graduation week events run May 24–28, 2026, and include the Graduation Parade on Stillman Field, the Space Force Patching Ceremony, Awards Ceremonies, and the Commencement Ceremony. A full schedule is at usafa.edu/graduation.

News Release from the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region

Colorado Springs, CO 

The YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region is excited to announce that Wilson Ranch Pool, and Monument Valley Pool will be opening for the 2026 summer season on Saturday, May 23. 

Thanks to the continued partnership with the City of Colorado Springs, the YMCA proudly operates two city-owned outdoor pools that provide the Colorado Springs community with opportunities to stay active, cool off, and enjoy time together throughout the summer. 

Both outdoor pools will offer lap swim and public open swim opportunities during the season. Pool capacities will be limited to help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests. NEW in 2026 - when you purchase a pool pass you can now make online reservations before your visit! 

The outdoor pool season runs through Monday, September 7, with modified operating hours beginning August 10, 2026 

Members and nonmembers may purchase the following admission options: 

YMCA Member Rates

Available for purchase May 23 – September 7

• $295 per Family Member
  (All family members must be active on the account at the time of purchase.)

• $175 per Individual Member

Nonmember Rates

Available for purchase now – September 7

• $500 per Family

• $380 per Individual

Additional admission options include:

• Monthly Pool Pass — Available for YMCA members only and valid for one month from the date of purchase

• Day Pass — Available for purchase daily by credit card or exact cash only; waivers are required for each visit

Please visit ppymca.org/poolpass  to purchase your pool pass today. We hope to see you this summer!

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, will be available for media interviews at Peterson Space Force Base on May 26 as they prepare to perform a flyover during the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 28.

On Tuesday, May 26, media representatives are invited to attend and capture imagery as the Thunderbirds conclude a site survey of the Academy and then land at Peterson SFB. This event will provide an opportunity to capture video footage and images of the iconic F-16 Fighting Falcons and the skilled pilots and support crew who make the Thunderbirds’ mission possible. Planeside interviews with Thunderbirds pilots will also be offered, starting at 2:00 p.m. This engagement will provide valuable insights into the team's rigorous training, precision flying, and dedication to representing the United States Air Force.

Serving as America's premier air demonstration team, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are an elite 135-member unit representing 31 different career fields. Performing at more than 30 locations each year, the team flies six signature red, white, and blue F-16 fighter jets in tight formation to execute breathtaking aerial maneuvers. These demonstrations showcase the precision, professionalism, and global readiness of the U.S. Air Force, demonstrating the exceptional capabilities of its advanced fighter jets and highly skilled Airmen. Acting as ambassadors, the Thunderbirds connect with communities worldwide to inspire excellence and a new generation of pilots.

In order to register for access to the installation, media representatives interested in attending must RSVP to Space Base Delta 1 Public Affairs at SBD1.PA@spaceforce.mil Please identify specific names for media professionals who plan to attend no later than 2:00 p.m. MST on Friday, May 22.

Media who have RSVP’d should meet at the Peterson SFB West Gate Visitor Center located at 1334 Stewart Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80914, no later than 1:00 p.m.
May 26. From there media will be escorted via government vehicles on base. Due to current base security measures, media who have not RSVP’d will not be granted access.

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UCCS conferred over 1,300 degrees to students from the Class of 2026 on Friday, May 15 during the Spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies at the Broadmoor World Arena. Graduates this semester earned 11 doctoral degrees, 419 master’s degrees and 1,180 bachelor’s degrees.
 

The morning Commencement Marshal Constance Staley, Professor of Communication in the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences; the afternoon Commencement Marshal Jena McCollum, Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering and Applied Science; Jennifer Sobanet, Chancellor of UCCS; Todd Saliman, President of the University of Colorado system; Aiden Burke, Student Government Association President; Isabella Polombo, Student Government Association Vice President; and Student Achievement Award speakers Brittany Iheomamere and Cana Adiso addressed graduates during the ceremonies.
 

“Small, consistent actions—learning a skill, nurturing a relationship, taking care of your health, building a career—compound into something extraordinary,” said Staley. “You don’t need dramatic leaps to build a meaningful life. You need steady, intentional steps. Pay attention to the slow changes. Trust the steady steps. And keep moving toward the life you want to build.”
 

Chancellor Sobanet then took the stage.
 

“Commencement is a joyous time where we reflect on how far you’ve come and the purpose you carry forward,” Chancellor Sobanet shared in her address. “This moment invites us to honor both our legacy and our future. The world’s challenges are real, but so is our capacity to meet them. At UCCS we are powered by people who lead with care and courage, grounded in research and creative works, and deeply connected to Colorado and its communities. We serve generously, invest our talents in our communities, and engage in civil discourse that fuels new ideas and meaningful solutions. By honoring our differences and drawing strength from what unites us, we carry the Mountain Lion spirit into the next chapter—advancing our community, our nation, and our world.”
 

In his address, President Saliman urged students to continue honing their skills, especially the skill of listening and how it can be used to connect with others, and balancing when to listen and when to speak up.
 

“With drive, curiosity, grit – and maybe one or two (or several) all-nighters – you’ve earned your CU degree and in doing so, you’ve proven to yourselves that you have what it takes to succeed,” said President Saliman. “As you undoubtedly know by now, the world is full of remarkable opportunity as well as tremendous complexity. You have the knowledge and skills to navigate both. But there’s one skill I want to focus on today. It’s absolutely critical, deceptively simple and in short supply.” 
 

“That skill is listening,” he continued. “Listening means more than simply waiting for your turn to speak. It means really hearing others, being interested in them, engaging with them, asking questions. Paying attention to their words but also hearing what’s behind their words and what they really care about. Being a good listener isn’t about mastering a technique. It’s about choosing not to fill every silence. It’s about recognizing that the person across from you has something to say that’s worth hearing. And that they come to the conversation with real world experiences – just like you do – that animate their opinions. Let me be clear: Listening does not mean disappearing. It doesn’t mean giving up your voice. It means finding balance – knowing when to speak and when to pause so others can be heard. If you’re the person who listens first and then speaks, I guarantee you will stand out. People will notice. More importantly, you’ll build trust. And that trust will allow you to impact the world around you. And that is exactly what we need you to do. Impact the world. Make it better. Our world needs your ideas, your energy, your grit and your leadership. It also needs your attention, your willingness to listen and your effort to connect.”
 

In the afternoon ceremony, Marshal McCollum urged students to celebrate their failures and learn from them.
 

“Are you here because of your successes…or because of your failures?” said McCollum. “Every person here has already done something difficult. You’ve navigated a path that had no clean lines, no perfect map, and no guarantee of success. You didn’t do it perfectly. No one did. You struggled, you adjusted, you kept going and that is exactly why you’re sitting here today. Every one of you has had moments where things didn’t go the way you planned. A class that didn’t go right. A path that didn’t work out. A moment where you had to adjust. Those weren’t detours away from your success. They were part of it.”
 

The ceremony included the recognition of twelve Golden Graduates, members of the Class of 1976 who celebrated 50 years since their own UCCS graduation.

To close the ceremonies, Regent Spiegel, Regent Montera, Regent Hood and Regent McNulty delivered the traditional Norlin Charge to graduates. The charge dates back to CU Boulder president George Norlin’s delivery of the June 1935 Commencement ceremony. The words of the Norlin Charge are now read to the graduating class each year at each of the four CU campuses, as a reminder that graduates will carry their experiences at the university with them forever.
 

“Commencement does not mean, as many wrongly think, the breaking of ties and the beginning of life apart,” reads the charge. “Rather, it marks your initiation in the fullest sense into the fellowship of the university, as bearers of her torch, as centers of her influence, as promoters of her spirit.”
 

“The university consists of all who come into and go forth from her halls, who are touched by her influence and who carry on her spirit. Wherever you go, the university goes with you. Wherever you are at work, there is the university at work.”

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – Col. Kenneth F. L. Klock, commander of Space Base Delta 1, headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, invites media to attend the SBD 1 annual state of the base address May 19 from 10:30 a.m. - noon.

This year's address will focus on the current state and future of SBD 1 including Peterson Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, Pituffik Space Base, Greenland, and Maui Space Surveillance Complex, Hawaii.

In his annual address, Klock will highlight the essential mission of SBD 1, emphasizing the pivotal role in enabling operations and securing space access for the nation and its allied partners. The address will cover, quantify the installations’ economic influence on the region, and articulate why space operations are fundamental to Colorado Springs. The goal is to educate local leaders about the installations’ mission, current affairs, and promote a mutual understanding between military leadership and the Pikes Peak community.

SBD 1 plays a pivotal role in the Colorado economy, with an economic impact of nearly $2.7 billion. More than $800 million of this impact comes from approximately 8,160 employees’ salaries. The remainder is paid out through contracts, services, utilities, materials, and construction. The base also provides services for more than 23,000 military retirees in the local area.
Klock will be available for a short Q&A session with the media following the conclusion of his address.

In order to register for access to the installation, media representatives interested in attending must RSVP to Space Base Delta 1 Public Affairs at SBD1.PA@spaceforce.mil Please identify specific names and contact numbers for media professionals who plan to attend no later than noon MST on May 18.

Media who have RSVP’d should meet at the Peterson SFB West Gate Visitor Center located at 1334 Stewart Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80914, no later than 9 a.m. on the date of the event. From there media will be escorted via government vehicles on base. Due to current base security measures, media who have not RSVP’d will not be granted access.

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