Graduation Week is a very exciting time for each Cadet and their family and friends. It can also be a very exhausting and emotion filled week. With everything going on leading to Graduation Week and during, the parents of USAFA Alumni have provided the following guidance and a planning timeline:
GRADUATION PLANNING TIMELINE USING THE KISS PRINCIPLE
Some prefer to dive in head first and enjoy the organizing, planning, and all. It is highly recommended to follow the KISS Principle for this week!
9-12 Months -Reserve hotel rooms/rental homes (VRBO & AirBNB) -Reserve car rentals (at DIA or COS)
4-6 Months -Determine the size of the guest list (might need this earlier if you plan on having all your guests in one rental home.) -Notify guests and asked them for RSVP for planning purposes. -Make plane reservations -Make list of Names and Addresses for Graduation Announcements -Order anything you might want special for your cadet, such as the class painting, the saber and/or class gun - Download the graduation itinerary from the USAFA Parent site when available.
4 Months -Order announcements (get extras) -Order pictures (REMEMBER ENOUGH FOR GRADUATION NOTICES) (get extras) -Let guests know they are on their own for meals, or whatever your plan is for meals. You can make restaurant reservations once we get there, but if there is something special you want to do, a reservation made as soon as you know, is best. Grocery shopping once you arrive is idea if you are renting lodging with a kitchen. -Order Party Platters from the grocery store, or any other catered food for the after-graduation party. Order cupcakes and desserts (hey, not going to suffer the crowds at restaurants on the day of graduation!)
1-2 Months -Address invitations and announcements -Finalize all details with rentals -Finalize travel details. -Send out the USAFA itinerary so guests are aware of what is going on -Arrange for Wheelchair or babysitting 1 week - 1 day before -Pack suitcases -Ensure you have your tickets/parking pass/etc. Make extra copies of passes, airline tickets, agendas, phone number lists, etc.
Week of Graduation - There are events throughout the week that you may be invited to based on what your Cadet has been involved in or received recognition for. Check with your Cadet periodically as to what you may be attending.
Move Out of Room - Last, but not least - each graduating Cadet will need to move out of their room by 5:00 pm MT the day of graduation. Depending upon what the next step is for your Cadet will determine what should be done with their belongings, i.e. places in the designated location for the Air Force to move them to their next destination, placed in storage on campus if returning to work their, etc. Again, discuss what need to be done with your Cadet .
Click on the USAFA Graduation link for more information.
GRADUATION PLANNING TIMELINE USING THE KISS PRINCIPLE
Some prefer to dive in head first and enjoy the organizing, planning, and all. It is highly recommended to follow the KISS Principle for this week!
9-12 Months -Reserve hotel rooms/rental homes (VRBO & AirBNB) -Reserve car rentals (at DIA or COS)
4-6 Months -Determine the size of the guest list (might need this earlier if you plan on having all your guests in one rental home.) -Notify guests and asked them for RSVP for planning purposes. -Make plane reservations -Make list of Names and Addresses for Graduation Announcements -Order anything you might want special for your cadet, such as the class painting, the saber and/or class gun - Download the graduation itinerary from the USAFA Parent site when available.
4 Months -Order announcements (get extras) -Order pictures (REMEMBER ENOUGH FOR GRADUATION NOTICES) (get extras) -Let guests know they are on their own for meals, or whatever your plan is for meals. You can make restaurant reservations once we get there, but if there is something special you want to do, a reservation made as soon as you know, is best. Grocery shopping once you arrive is idea if you are renting lodging with a kitchen. -Order Party Platters from the grocery store, or any other catered food for the after-graduation party. Order cupcakes and desserts (hey, not going to suffer the crowds at restaurants on the day of graduation!)
1-2 Months -Address invitations and announcements -Finalize all details with rentals -Finalize travel details. -Send out the USAFA itinerary so guests are aware of what is going on -Arrange for Wheelchair or babysitting 1 week - 1 day before -Pack suitcases -Ensure you have your tickets/parking pass/etc. Make extra copies of passes, airline tickets, agendas, phone number lists, etc.
Week of Graduation - There are events throughout the week that you may be invited to based on what your Cadet has been involved in or received recognition for. Check with your Cadet periodically as to what you may be attending.
Move Out of Room - Last, but not least - each graduating Cadet will need to move out of their room by 5:00 pm MT the day of graduation. Depending upon what the next step is for your Cadet will determine what should be done with their belongings, i.e. places in the designated location for the Air Force to move them to their next destination, placed in storage on campus if returning to work their, etc. Again, discuss what need to be done with your Cadet .
Click on the USAFA Graduation link for more information.
The USAFA Parents' Club of Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) corporation.
This website's content in no way reflects the opinions, standards, or policy of the United States Air Force Academy or the U.S. government.
This website's content in no way reflects the opinions, standards, or policy of the United States Air Force Academy or the U.S. government.