The Kadet is the unique symbol of Air Academy High School (AAHS). It is the proud mascot of a proud Colorado school.

The image of a bird with a baseball bat is plastered around the school. But why are we represented by such an odd bird?

The fictional mascot is inspired by our unusual location. The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) has been a key identifying aspect of AAHS and many features of the school have been given names to fit this.

The Kadet was modeled after the USAFA falcons. The word Kadet is taken from the word cadet, which is a person training for the military. The Kadet bird resembles a small falcon which is the mascot of the USAFA.

The falcon is a proud symbol to have.

“The falcon represents vision, freedom, and victory,” claimed Symbolism Wiki. “In early dynasties… it signified royal power and protection from danger, and ill health.”

There are various paintings of the mascot around the school. The earliest paintings are mostly in A building. They depict a blue bird with a yellow beak and talons. This figure is often drawn holding a baseball bat with a nail in it.

This was the original mascot created by the original Kadets. However, the school was founded 61 years ago in 1957. Both the mascot and the school have changed so much since then.

The school has grown from a single small building to include the two story D building and the ever changing B building. The mascot has been changing along side the improvements to the school.

More recent depictions show a bird that more closely resembles a falcon. Several examples can be found in D and C buildings and in the gym. These are mostly busts of a falcon painted in blue and silver.

This version of the mascot is a more modern design. It better associates AAHS with the USAFA and uses the school’s signature colors. The new paintings are also of a prouder, less threatening bird.

The mascot reflects the pride of the history and the future of this school.

“I like the buff bird much better,” said math teacher Kimberly Madden. “We keep [the original mascot] because people like the history of it.” 

The students of AAHS are leaving a legacy that is among the oldest in the district. The Kadet has been the centerpiece of that legacy and will be as long as this school remains an example to strive toward.