Thirty-six members of UPT Class 25-11 receive their wings during a graduation ceremony June 18 at Vance

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  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Thirty-six students in Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 25-11 received their wings during a ceremony held June 18 at Vance Air Force Base.

The newly pinned pilots completed their initial aviation training in either the T-6A Texan II or the T-1A Jayhawk training programs at Vance.

The guest speaker at the Class 25-11 graduation ceremony was retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Rudolf Peksens. The general is a command pilot with nearly 3,900 flight hours, including more than 600 combat hours over Vietnam and Iraq in the B-52, RF-4 and F-4G aircraft. He earned his wings at Vance Air Force Base in 1967.

Class 25-11 award winners were:
Maj. Jack Maliska received the Leadership Award;
1st Lt. Ella Skinkis received the Academic Award;
1st Lt. Finian Laverty received the Flying Training Award and was named a Distinguished Graduate;
1st Lt. Brandon Garcia received the Wingman Award;
2nd Lt. Joseph Canty received the Air Education & Training Command Commander’s Trophy and was named a Distinguished Graduate;
2nd Lt. Christopher Grazko received the Order of Daedalians, the Academic Training Award, the Flying Training Award and was named a Distinguished Graduate.

Also receiving their pilot wings during the ceremony were:
Capt. Logan Holmberg
Capt. Rachel Kobernuss
Capt. David Notti
Capt. Nathan Pawlik
Capt. Amad Syed
1st Lt. Stephen Baiardi
1st Lt. Timothy Barker
1st Lt. Ray Benson
1st Lt. Nicholas Carrion
1st Lt. Jesse Jenkins
1st Lt. Spencer Johnson
1st Lt. Grace Jones
1st Lt. Samuel Marler
1st Lt. Adam Pelzman
1st Lt. Tristin Slone
2nd Lt. Dan Birger
2nd Lt. Jordan Block
2nd Lt. Robert Brooks
2nd Lt. Murphy Corum
2nd Lt. Jacob Fogle
2nd Lt. Lana Gascon
2nd Lt. Calvin Leangpun
2nd Lt. Carli Meis
2nd Lt. Maxwell Minervini
2nd Lt. Gabriel Newberry
2nd Lt. Hunter Nudson
2nd Lt. Philip Querciagrossa
2nd Lt. Trevor Resler
2nd Lt. Timothy Smith
2nd Lt. Thomas Stephens