On Friday, May 11, thirteen University of Arkansas Air Force ROTC Cadets were commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Air Force.

Over 200 attendees were present at the Commissioning Ceremony, which was held at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum in Fayetteville. Lt. Col. Steve Gray, USAF Retired, was the guest speaker. Other distinguished guest in attendance included:

• Jim Coleman, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs
• Stephanie Blevins, Northwest Arkansas outreach coordinator, Office of the Governor
• Col. Frank Long, USAF Retired, Northwest Arkansas Military Officers of America chapter
• Capt. Cliff Mosier, USA Retired, Northwest Arkansas Military Officers of America chapter

The following list includes the commissionees, their earned degrees, as well as their Air Force career fields:

• 2d Lt. Monica Cooper, Master of Public Administration, contracting officer after one year as a Gold Bar recruiter
• 2d Lt. Austin Cowart, B.A. in International Studies, combat systems officer
• 2d Lt. Jared Emberson, B.S. in Kinesiology, pilot
• 2d Lt. Benjamin Fiser, B.A. in International Studies, security forces officer
• 2d Lt. John Hankes, B.S. in International Business, pilot
• 2d Lt. Nicholas Hauch, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, logistics readiness officer
• 2d Lt. Hunter Lee, B.S. in Business Administration, pilot
• 2d Lt. Valentin Lopez III, B.A. in Spanish, intelligence officer
• 2d Lt. Gabriella Marrufo, B.A. in Criminal Justice, intelligence officer after one year as a Gold Bar recruiter
• 2d Lt. Andrew Peterson, B.A. in Political Science, remotely piloted aircraft pilot
• 2d Lt. SondraClaire Sellers, B.A. in International Studies, intelligence officer after one year as a Gold Bar recruiter
• 2d Lt. John Taylor, B.A. in Political Science, combat systems officer
• 2d Lt. Yia "Lucky" Thao, B.A. in Political Science, intelligence officer after one year as a Gold Bar recruiter

The Air Force ROTC Detachment 030 Thunderhawgs are very proud of the new commissionees.