Drone show lights up night sky above Williams Stadium to celebrate Liberty’s Class of 2025

As Liberty University’s Class of 2025 concluded its celebration at the 52nd Commencement Main Ceremony on Friday night, they were greeted with the first-ever drone show on campus.

Aerial entertainment company Sky Elements, which has performed for the NFL, MLB, and NASCAR, operated 300 drones that graced the air above Williams Stadium depicting various Liberty- and graduation-themed images over a 12-minute production. The show featured voiceovers, including inspiring messages from Liberty founder Jerry Falwell Sr. The drones formed colorful images of a graduation cap, DeMoss Hall, Liberty’s logo, and the Sparky mascot among other visuals, and it tied in Liberty’s alma mater and fight song and the familiar intro to Convocation. They were launched from the football practice field behind the Liberty Football Center.

Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications Kristin Conrad said the university had been hoping to host a drone show for years, and the 2025 Commencement marked the perfect time to put this plan into action.

“We wanted the show to be inspirational, celebrate our graduates, and also include elements from their student experience whether they attended on campus or online,” she said. “We tied in creative elements that spoke to our founding and our mission.”

Sky Elements worked with various Liberty departments for the show, including Marketing, Broadcast Operations, School of Aeronautics’ UAS program, Office of Security and Public Safety, and the Registrar’s Office. All music for the show was provided by video production specialist Isaac Brenny. Fireworks also lit up the night sky during the display.

Program Manager for Commencement Lori Boyce said over 30 people were involved in producing the show.

“It took a small army to pull off what we witnessed tonight, between the creative team, drone operators, and our safety and security staff.”

Sky Elements is well-respected in the field of aerial entertainment, achieving a Guinness World Record in 2024 for the largest drone show in the United States with 5,000 drones for a show in Mansfield, Texas. Several alumni from Liberty’sCinematic Arts, Zaki Gordon Center work as contractors for Sky Elements.

Liberty’s 52nd Commencement celebrated the largest graduating class in university history, with over 32,000 graduates. Over 30 events were scheduled Thursday through Saturday, including 28 separate degree presentation ceremonies, making Liberty’s Commencement the largest event held in Central Virginia every year. On Friday night, graduates heard a powerful keynote address from the 74th Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin.