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Falcon Foundation

2026 Summer Update

As the Falcon Scholars from 2020-21 have graduated and moved on to the next chapter, we take a look back


Falcon Scholar Appointments

We are pleased to report that all 47 of our Falcon Scholars from the Class of 2025-26 have earned appointments to the United States Air Force Academy. Additionally, a Falcon Scholar from the previous year, whose appointment was withdrawn because of a medical misdiagnosis, has now received an appointment and will join the USAFA Class of 2030. We celebrate this outstanding achievement and the perseverance demonstrated by each of these future Air and Space Force leaders.


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Class of '26 Top Falcon Scholars

Congratulations to this year’s four Top Falcon Scholar award winners!

Top Falcon Scholar Award for Overall Performance

This award is made in honor of the late Maj Gen Robert J. Smith, USAF (Ret), and is made possible by generous donations from the late Jean Snodgrass and her family.

The Falcon Foundation is pleased to recognize the outstanding achievements of the Falcon Scholar Class of 2026. This year, the Top Falcon Scholar Award for Overall Performance was shared by two exceptional cadets:

  • Cadet First Class Luke E. Phillips, CS-40, who attended Northwestern Preparatory School
  • Cadet First Class Christopher L. Pombo, CS-30, who attended Georgia Military College

Their exceptional performance in academics, military development, and physical performance earned them a tie for the Foundation's highest Scholar honor.

Pictured front row, left to right: Falcon Foundation President & CEO General Stephen R. Lorenz, USAF (Ret), Falcon Scholar for Overall Performance C1C Luke E. Phillips. Back row, left to right: USAFA Commandant Brig. Gen. Brandon J. Tellez, USAFA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony D. Bauernfeind.
Pictured from left to right, USAFA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony D. Bauernfeind, Top Falcon Scholar for Overall Performance C1C Christopher L. Pombo, Trustee and former Overall Top Falcon Scholar for the Class of 1986 Lt. Col. James O. Holley, USAF (Ret), and Chairman General William R. Looney, USAF (Ret). Photo courtesy of the USAFA Association and Foundation.

Top Falcon Scholar Award for Military Performance

This award is sponsored by Mr. Harold Stuart of the Gertrude Skelly Trust. The Class of ’26 Top Falcon Scholar for Military Performance is Elise N. Viles from CS-35 who attended Marion Military Institute.

Pictured from left to right, USAFA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony D. Bauernfeind, Top Falcon Scholar for Military Performance C1C Elise N. Viles, and Chairman General William R. Looney. Photo courtesy of the USAFA Association and Foundation.

Top Falcon Scholar Award for Athletic Performance

This award is sponsored by Maj Gen Edmund A. Rafalko, USAF (Ret). The Class of ’26 Top Falcon Scholar for Athletic Performance is Luke E. Phillips from CS-40 who attended Northwestern Preparatory School.

Pictured from left to right, USAFA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony D. Bauernfeind, Top Falcon Scholar for Athletic Performance C1C Luke E. Phillips, Chairman General William R. Looney, USAF (Ret), and Trustee Dr. Hans Mueh. Photo courtesy of the USAFA Association and Foundation.

2025-26 Preparatory School Visits

2025-26 In-person visits with Falcon Scholars and prep schools occurred in fall.

From left to right, Trustee Dr. Munson, Col, USAF (Ret); Trustee Col Allen, USAF (Ret); President and CEO Gen Lorenz, USAF (Ret); and USAFA Director of Admissions Col Candice Pipes joined together to visit Falcon Scholars at New Mexico Military Institute on August 11, 2025.
Col Sue Ross, USAF (Ret), Scholarship Committee Chair, joined President and CEO Gen Steve Lorenz, USAF (Ret), to visit Falcon Scholars at Marion Military Institute on September 17, 2025.
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President and CEO Gen Steve Lorenz, USAF (Ret), together with Trustee William “T” Thompson, Esq., visited Falcon Scholars at Georgia Military College on September 18–19, 2025.
USAFA Director of Admissions Col Candice Pipes, together with President and CEO Gen Steve Lorenz, USAF (Ret), and Trustees Lt Gen Chuck Heflebower, USAF (Ret), and Lt Gen John Fairfield, USAF (Ret), visited Falcon Scholars at Randolph-Macon Academy on September 23, 2025.