ðə "θˈʌndɚbˌɜːd" mˈæskɑːt wʌz tʃˈoʊzən ɪn hˈɑːmɪdʒ tə ðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts ˈɛɹ fˈoːɹs ɐkˈædəmi, hˌuːz kˈʌlɚz wɜːɹ ˈɔːlsoʊ blˈuː ænd wˈaɪt.
The "Thunderbird" mascot was chosen in homage to the United States Air Force Academy, whose colors were also blue and white.