Hindu cadets observe religious holiday

Sitaramacharyalu Gunturu and Srinivasacharya Gudimella prepare a Hindu altar for a Sri Ganesh Chaturthi observance in the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel Sept. 21, 2012. Gunturu and Gudimella are priests with the Sri Venkateswara Temple of Colorado, based in Castle Rock, Colo. The festival celebrates the birthday of Ganesha, one of the major gods in the Hindu religion. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Board of Visitors meets with Academy officials

The Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors traveled to the Academy Sept. 15, 2012, to learn more about ongoing missions and concerns. Pictured are, left to right: Dr. Thomas McKiernan, Fletcher Wiley, Alfredo Sandoval, Board Chair Ambassador Susan Schwab, retired Lt. Gen. Dick Jameson, Lt. Gen. Darrell Jones and Robin Hayes. Not pictured are retired Maj. Gen. Marcelite Harris, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.). (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

Construction near Community Center continues on-schedule

Construction workers install curbing along Community Center Drive on Sept. 20, 2012. Construction along Community Center Drive and in the Base Exchange parking lot will add drainage pipes, inlets and curbs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Carol Lawrence)

Music director reflects on 30 years at Academy

Dr. Joe Galema conducts the Cadet Chorale and Colorado Springs Philharmonic's performance of Handel's "Messiah" in the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel Dec. 2, 2011. Galema, the Cadet Chapel's music director and organist, started working at the Academy in September 1982. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Academy observes AF's 65th birthday

Airman Stephanie Shishido salutes during a retreat ceremony honoring the Air Force birthday at the Air Force Academy's 10th Air Base Wing Headquarters Sept. 18, 2012. Shishido is a medical technician with the 10th Medical Operations Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Academy observes AF's 65th birthday

Lt. Col. Matthew Sandelier leads a formation in observing retreat at the Air Force Academy's 10th Air Base Wing Headquarters in honor of the Air Force birthday Sept. 18, 2012. Sandelier is the 10th Force Support Squadron deputy director. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Academy cheerleaders encourage their team, community

Male cheerleaders run Air Force Academy flags across the field after an Air Force touchdown Sept. 1, 2012. Air Force defeated Idaho State in the Falcons' opening game of the season, 49-21. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Academy cheerleaders encourage their team, community

Air Force Academy cheerleaders perform a pyramid stunt during the Air Force home opener at Falcon Stadium Sept. 1, 2012. The varsity squad comprises six male and six female cadets who perform at every football game. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Going solo: Cadet makes Academy powered flight history

Lt. Col. Scott Oskvarek presents Cadet 1st Class Staci Rouse with a name patch upon her landing to commemorate her historic fight Sept. 7. Rouse was the first cadet in Academy history to fly solo in a powered aircraft. Oskvarek is an instructor pilot with the 70th Flying Training Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Cadet provides gift of life through stem cell donation

Cadet 3rd Class Kyle Schroeder holds a bag containing blood-forming stem cells that he donated in Denver Sept. 5, 2012. Schroeder, a native of Colorado Springs, found out in the summer that he was a match for a recipient he has never met. He is assigned to Cadet Squadron 33. (Courtesy photo)

Academy firefighter to receive national award

Elaine Perkins, a Honolulu native and the station captain for Fire Station 3 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., was named the 2011 National Image, Inc., Meritorious Service Award winner. She is scheduled to receive the award during a presentation in Los Angeles Sept. 13, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Academy holds panel honoring women's suffrage

Col. Stella Renner asks RBI Strategies and Research President Rick Ridder about the challenges of collecting demographic data on military voters, many of whom vote in states other than their states of residence, during a Women's Equalidy Day panel at the Air Force Academy Aug. 27, 2012. Also on the panel were Colorado Rep. Crisanta Duran (D-Denver) and Colorado League of Women Voters President Catherine Perrone. Renner is the Academy's vice commandant of culture and climate. (U.S. Air force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Academy holds panel honoring women's suffrage

Master Sgt. Kelly Links introduces panelists at a Women's Equality Day luncheon at the Air Force Academy Aug. 27, 2012. Panelists were Rep. Crisanta Duran (D-Denver), League of Women Voters President Catherine Perrone and RBI Strategies and Research co-founder Rick Ridder. Other guests of note included Rep. Janak Joshi (R-Colorado Springs) and Lynn Gangone, dean of the University of Denver Women's College. Links is a dental technician with the Academy's 10th Dental Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Mentoring programs aims to encourage diversity

Tammy Gauthier teaches a class on mentoring in Arnold Hall at the Air Force Academy Aug. 6, 2012. Gauthier is the management analyst for the Montana Veterans Affairs Department's Performance Measure Program and a certified mentoring fellow. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Diversity

The Academy’s Sexual Assault Prevention Response program has developed education and preventive tools, implemented bystander intervention training, extended victim care and worked hard to establish a program victims can trust. (U.S. Air Force Photo Illustration/Mike Kaplan)

Diversity

Cadet 2nd Class Richard Cook with co-workers from Chindex explore an ancient village outside of Beijing during his Ambassadors of Inclusion visit to China. Cook worked as an intern in the marketing department of the United Family Hospitals division. (U.S. Air Force Photo)

No engine? No problem

Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, prepares for a TG-15A glider ride Aug. 13, 2012, with Cadet 1st Class Chris Olson of Cadet Squadron 13. Olson is co-captain of the Academy’s Sailplane Racing Team. (U.S. Air Force photo/Elizabeth Andrews)

Diversity training

Tina Erzen and Col. Andy Szmerekovsky conduct a short mentoring session during a class on mentoring at the Air Force Academy Aug. 6. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Don Branum)

Air Liaison Officer Assessment

Master Sgt. Joseph Palmer and other mobile operations in urban terrain instructors demonstrate how to clear a room. Palmer is assigned to the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Don Branum)

Air Liaison Officer Assessment

An air liaison officer candidate loads simulated rounds into an M-4 rifle clip during an air liaison officer assessment Aug. 5. The course is designed to test officers’ and cadets’ ability to lead, follow and adapt during combat situations. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Don Branum)

Distinguished Service Award

Edward E. Legasey, a 1967 Air Force Academy graduate, has been awarded the 2012 Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding service and unfailing support to the Air Force Academy. (U.S. Air Force Photo)

Academy librarian accepted into prestigious leadership program

Janice Young, an electronic resources librarian at the Air Force Academy, was selected in June along with 50 other applicants from the Pikes Peak Region to participate in the 2012 Leadership Pikes Peak Signature Program. Young is a native of Las Vegas who taught in Nevada schools and holds a master's degree in education. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

'Traveling' basic cadets observe modified Ramadan

Basic Cadet Mohammed Gallala takes off his boots to prepare for evening prayer in a tent chapel at Jacks Valley after the first full day of Ramadan on July 20, 2012. Approximately 10 basic cadets have regularly attended Muslim services, led by Imam Mohammed Jodeh. Gallala is a native of Tunisia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

'Traveling' basic cadets observe modified Ramadan

Basic cadets kneel during maghrib, or sunset prayers, in Jacks Valley's Muslim chapel July 22, 2012. Islam typically requires five daily prayers, to be done before sunrise, at noon, in the mid-afternoon, just after sunset and before going to bed for the evening. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)