Retired Maj. Kenneth A. Lavin, Ed.D., devoted 27 years of his life to serving cadets at the Air Force Academy.

He taught German as an associate professor and served as the director of the graduate studies program. After retirement, he continued to work as an associate professor and scholarship advisor at the Academy.

Lavin passed away in 2016 after a battle with cancer.

In memory of Lavin’s life and love for the Air Force Academy, his widow, Bonnie, made a significant gift to the Stamps Family Charitable Scholarship Fund.

"While Ken enjoyed every job he had in the military, teaching cadets a foreign language and later helping cadets win scholarships to continue their educations in fields of their passions was what he loved to do!" she said. 

The Stamps scholarship supports select cadets who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and academic success, offering them opportunities to conduct undergraduate research, study abroad and travel internationally to pursue graduate scholarships.

This summer, Stamps Scholars are participating in a variety of internships and cross-cultural experiences, pursuing Russian language studies in Ukraine, exploring desalination solutions in Israel, conducting quantum computing research in California, and working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in Virginia.

Two recent Stamps Scholarship recipients, Tory Gullo ’16 and Jeremy Jacobellis ’17, went on to receive Holaday Scholarships to pursue graduate studies at Oxford University in England.

"On his plaque on his grave it said, 'Beloved husband, father, grandfather, teacher and friend,'" Lavin shared. "To teachers, the main reason to do anything is to make a positive impact on others and a difference in the world! That is what Ken and I always believed."

Memorial gifts can be designated to a specific program as a one-time gift or scheduled over time. For more information, contact the Endowment at 719-472-0300.

Million dollar challenge

"It's time for Academy graduates to step up and make a difference."

Retired Lt. Col. Rick Mantei ’76 fulfilled his dream of graduating from the Air Force Academy, becoming a fighter pilot and serving as an officer in the United States Air Force. His academic training and leadership development at the Academy also prepared him for a successful career as a financial advisor.

Mantei feels strongly that graduates should give back to the Academy to help prepare cadets for a lifetime of service and success.

“It’s time for Academy graduates to step up and make a difference,” he says. And he’s backing up his words with a challenge. 

Mantei is committed to giving $1 million to Air Force Academy projects and programs that are shaping cadets into tomorrow’s leaders. 

He is making significant headway toward his goal with nearly $500,000 in pledges and gifts to the Center for Character and Leadership Development, Wings of Blue, Air Garden and Planetarium restorations and the USAFA Endowment Fund. 

Mantei is challenging Academy graduates to match his $1 million commitment — either individually or as a group — by making significant gifts or pledges through the Endowment to support Academy programs that are important to them.

Follow the Million Dollar Challenge and give to a project of your choice.

A Winning Team

Introducing Vince Greco 

Vince Greco serves the Endowment as a major gift officer in the northeast region of the country inspiring a spirit of philanthropy, motivating engagement and elevating the USAFA mission.

Greco and his wife, Susan, are the parents of Academy graduate 2nd Lt. Ashley Greco ’17.

Prior to joining the Endowment team, Greco served Academy graduates as the director of business programs for the Association of Graduates.

With a degree in communications, Greco has worked in the broadcasting industry for over 25 years, serving as the sports director for KRDO radio and TV in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He still enjoys spending his free time broadcasting games for FalconVision. 

 

Generals take charge of Air Commanders Symposium

"You are airmen and you have a culture and tradition of being airmen, back to the Lafayette Escadrille to Doolittle to the Tuskegee Airmen, back to Chennault and the Flying Tigers." 

- Gen. T. Michael Moseley

The Academy welcomed four distinguished Air Force generals to headline the Air Commanders Symposium April 11 in Arnold Hall Theater.

Retired four-star generals Charles Horner, Hal Hornburg, John Jumper, and T. Michael Moseley explored the topic of Air Campaigns and Air Force Leadership since 1990. Read the full story online.

Coordinated through the Academy’s Department of Military and Strategic Studies and the Center for Character and Leadership Development, the symposium was part of the center’s Profession of Arms Speaker Series and co-hosted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

The symposium is supported by The Boeing Company through the Boeing Profession of Arms Speaker Series Fund.

A new decade of support begins

Read the Endowment’s 2017 Annual Report to see how Academy graduates and friends are enhancing cadet training and expanding the excellence of the Air Force Academy.

Celebrating the Class of 2018

• 984 Graduates: 772 men; 212 women

• 273 Minority graduates

• 13 International graduates

• 511 Graduates entering flying-related fields: 417 to pilot training; 14 to combat systems operator training; 11 to air battle manager training; 69 to remotely piloted aircraft training.

• 114 Graduates pursuing graduate studies.