United States Air Force Academy

Northern Illinois Parents Club

ACCEPTANCE PARADE REPORTS

The parents of the class of 2012 (Never Falter, Never Fail) who attended Acceptance Day are starting to report their experience, and it is GOOD !! Carl Knighten went to see his son Andrew and this is what he says:

Acceptance day was fantastic! I am so glad that everyone encouraged me to go. I can tell you that next year as I talk to the parents of the class of 2013 I will tell them my story and encourage them to commit to the trip. Seeing Andrew getting his boards pinned on and meeting the cadre as well as his fellow cadets made for a great day. He was proud to show me around the area and have a tour of his room. Very positive and upbeat visit. As I was taking his picture in front of one of the jets a gentleman says “ would you like me to take a picture of you both with your camera” as I turned around to see who said that, it was Doc Colvin the husband of Colonel Gail Colvin. She congratulated Andrew and I asked if it would be ok for me to get a picture of the two of them and she eagerly agreed. She spoke to us for a few minutes. She is a very nice lady. Afterwards I went down to the fields to watch him work out with the soccer team. It was a shot in the arm for him and a blessing for me.

Wanda Glitz of Des Plaines, went and sent some pics back along with this note. The pics are of Caitlin getting her boards, a pic with mom and one with fellow NIPC C3C Carly Olsowski of Elgin (If I remember Carly and Caitlin met at the Appointee Banquet in May and there is a pic of that in the Meeting Recap section of the website). It was a great experience for Wanda and it sounds like she is not regretting going. She learned that her efforts to get there counted !! Everything counts !:

The most inspiring speaker told them that everything they will ever do at the Academy and in life can be summed up in two words: EVERYTHING COUNTS. He said anytime they are ever tempted to cut corners or take shortcuts or do something they shouldn't do, to remember that EVERYTHING COUNTS and someone will always be watching. Beautiful. EVERYTHING COUNTS, words to live by.

Barb Laleman of Moline was not going to go to AD but after learning of the great experience and what it would do for Alexis having her there to share in this great moment, this is the note she wrote along with Alexis' pic on Acceptance Day:

It was a wonderful experience and I am so glad I went! The whole ceremony was great. It's amazing to see over 4,000 cadets on the field. The weather was perfect. I made it onto the field in time to see the shoulder boards pinned on. We had a picnic lunch, Alexis showed me her room, we talked about lots of things. She was glad I came and loves the Academy. She's changed in 3 months from a great person into a great, more mature and self-possessed young woman who presents herself with dignity and grace. I guess BCT worked! Barb

NIPC C2C Kyle Schemenaur sent pictures from AD when he had the privilege to pin the Boards on C4Cs. The pictures here are of Cadets Shaffer and Mateea from Slovenia. No, Kyle is not standing in a hole while pinning the Boards on Shaffer, who happens to be 6 feet 10 inches tall.

This is the map that is handed out at the Parades at USAFA. You'll know where to sit for Acceptance and Parents Weekend by looking where your Cadets Squad stand.