From the Nominator

The Association of Graduates is the alumni association for the United States Air Force Academy. It is a separate nonprofit, not officially a part of the Academy. USAFA is a four-year institution that develops leaders of character for the Air Force.

From the Judges

Ryan Hall’s photos for the Association of Graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy offered us emotion, action, storytelling and scene-setting executed with technical mastery and artful compositions. The portfolio took powerful subjects — the grit, grime and feeling of accomplishment that comes from training to become an officer — and made them more powerful and interesting. The judges’ favorite shot captures the excitement of graduation as jets fly overhead and hats are tossed. The judges also liked the mix of portraits, action and landscapes (with a jet, of course) to show the story of what life is like at the school.

Finalists

Brigham Young University, District VI - Nate Edwards- BYU Photo

Brigham Young University, District VI - Jaren Wilkey - BYU Photo

Bucknell University, District II - Photos from winter 2018 cover story, "Personalizing the Great War"

Indiana University, District V -James Brosher Photography

Jacksonville State University, District III - Matthew Reynolds Portfolio

James Madison University, District III - James Madison University 2018

Swarthmore College, District II - Laurence Kesterson Portfolio 

Tufts University, District I - Anna Miller, portfolio of work

University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc, District I - Peter Morenus Portfolio, UConn

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - District V - Joseph Xu Photography Portfolio

University of Washington, District VIII - Quinn Russell Brown Portfolio