THIS MONTH: Program updates - News and Events - AE Safety Check - Important things to know about membership

We are pleased to announce CAP's K-6 Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) National Awards for 2026. The ACE Program was launched in 2007 as a free, interactive aerospace/STEM program for CAP educator members teaching kindergarten through 6th Grade. Since its inception, the program has successfully engaged and inspired students to explore aviation, space, and other STEM-related careers. Using an aerospace theme, the ACE Program integrates three essential educational pillars —academics, character education, and physical fitness — while helping students connect classroom learning with real-world applications. During the 2025-2026 school year, 104,570 K-6 students participated in the ACE Program, bringing the total number of students served since 2007 to 874,616.

To further enhance the ACE Program, the ACE Plus Program was developed to foster collaboration between CAP squadrons and fifth- through eighth-grade classrooms participating in ACE. Through ACE Plus, squadrons extend camaraderie and support to teachers by providing aerospace/STEM classroom resources, student mentorship, and an introduction to Civil Air Patrol. During the 2025-2026 school year, a record-breaking 41 collaborative teams involving 3,881 students participated in the ACE Plus Program.

Congratulations! The 2026 National ACE Award Winners are:

• National ACE School of the Year: W.A. Perry Middle School, Columbia, South Carolina, and the site of the 2026-2027 National ACE Liftoff Event in October (Pictured, lower right)
• National ACE Teacher of the Year: Luke McKinley, a K-8 STEM educator at McTigue Elementary School in Toledo, Ohio.
• ACE Student of the Year: Peyton Talton, 6th-grade student at W.A. Perry Middle School in Columbia, South Carolina.
• ACE Plus Collaboration Award: Florida College Academy of Temple. Florida, and Sunlake High School Cadet Squadron of Land O'Lakes, Florida

Click the link below to read about all winners and their impact in their communities!

Registration deadline nears for National

High-Altitude Balloon Challenge for Cadets

In less than two weeks, registration will close for CAP Aerospace Education’s sixth annual Col. Joe Kittinger CAP National Aerospace High‑Altitude Balloon Challenge for Cadets. The registration deadline is midnight May 18 in the registrant’s local time zone — late entries will not be accepted.

Any cadet or composite squadron may register for this national STEM challenge at no cost. 

Teams work to select one or more science experiments to test the effects of high altitude on that experiment to determine how humans can live and work in space. The experiments will be launched to the edge of the stratosphere in high-altitude weather balloons. For this year, we have reduced the number of required video submissions from two to one. This will give squadrons more time to work on other aspects of the robust program while still creating a post-launch video

Details are available on the High-Altitude Balloon Challenge webpage, or click the direct link to registration below. Please address questions to hab@capnhq.gov. We look forward to another year of launching science to the stratosphere!

TOP Flight in Arizona Wing features STEM event

CAP members who are educators are eligible for one Teacher Orientation Program (TOP) flight per fiscal year. A recent Arizona Wing event demonstrated how the teacher's experience can provide an engaging opportunity for a whole school and community.

Teachers, to request a flight, contact your state’s volunteer Director of Aerospace Education (DAE) as found on the list here. Provide your CAP ID#, the city where you live, and your cell number to help them coordinate with their Operations team to get you a plane and pilot at an airport near you -- to get you into the air!

Some TOP Flights are able to fly the teachers over their school. Such was the case for an exciting event held in Arizona Wing last month at Canyon Springs STEM Academy in Anthem, Arizona. The school held a STEM night, and cadets from the Dear Valley Composite Squadron provided an aerospace activity for over 300 participants. CAP pilot Capt. Clair Traynor, flew AEM Jamie Stento (pictured) over the school that day.

(Top, pictured from left, Lt. Liz Schmitt, C/MSgt Ayansh Ranjan, C/SrA Kenneth Heryanto,

C/Amn Adavya Ranjan, C/CMSgt Gabriella Vanasco, Arizona Director of Aerospace Education Lt. Col. Ron Marks; Lt. Col. Ruben Kaufenbaum)

It's not too late to earn the 2025-2026 AEX award

AEX Award registration and completion for squadrons and AEMs:  

There is still time to make sure your squadron or classroom applies for the 2025-2026 AEX Award program in eServices. AEX program activities should take place from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 each year. You can retroactively fill in any of these lessons and experiences you conducted with cadets or students from Oct. 1, 2025 through today's date and add any other needed activities that occur through September to get to the total of six activities plus a two-hour field experience. Activities and resources are available to members in Absorb LMS or in the curriculum booklets received from CAP. Or you may use your own activities or lessons from a like-minded STEM education organization. The group and each participant will receive a certificate upon completion of the program. Teachers, these certificates are great for end-of-year awards days.

To learn more about the AEX Program, click the link below.

News and Events

Inspire the next generation of aerospace leaders

Fuel curiosity. Spark innovation. Open doors to the future. The Aerospace Education Gift Catalog gives every supporter the chance to directly shape the next generation of explorers, engineers, and aviators. Whether it’s providing engaging STEM kits that ignite discovery, supporting high‑altitude balloon challenges that turn cadet dreams into real‑world missions, or strengthening aerospace curriculum that reaches classrooms nationwide, each gift becomes a launchpad for learning. 



Your contribution doesn’t just fund a program—it empowers a young mind to look up, imagine more, and take flight. Explore the AE Gift Catalog and choose the impact that inspires you. 

Senior squadron organizes immersive

youth aviation opportunity at airport

On April 18, members of NER-NY-219, Westchester Hudson Senior Squadron, represented CAP Aerospace Education's mission to inspire the next generation in STEM by organizing an immersive, engaging learning opportunity to help local scouts take a significant step in earning their Aviation Merit Badge. A group of scouts from Troop 65 located in the Bronx, New York, attended the event, held at the Westchester County Airport.

The program began with a behind-the-scenes visit to the airport’s control tower. There, scouts were introduced to the critical role air traffic controllers play in maintaining the safety and efficiency of aircraft movements.

Next, the group toured the airport’s Fire and Rescue unit. Emergency personnel demonstrated specialized equipment and explained rapid response procedures for aircraft incidents. This portion of the visit emphasized safety, preparedness, and the unique challenges associated with aviation emergencies, which helped the scouts understand airport operations beyond just flying.

The highlight of the day came during the afternoon session, when the scouts participated in a simulated flight experience using a full-motion Redbird flight simulator. This simulator is designed to replicate a Cessna aircraft which is commonly flown by the Civil Air Patrol. The experience provided a realistic introduction to flight controls, navigation, and basic piloting techniques.

This portion of the program was led by Capt. Christian Zornitta, 1st Lt. Brian Moran, and 2nd Lt. Christian Perry, who guided the scouts through the fundamentals of flight in an engaging and accessible way. Under their instruction, each participant had the opportunity to “take the controls,” experiencing takeoffs, maneuvers, and landings in a safe, controlled environment.

The event not only helped the scouts fulfill key requirements for their Aviation Merit Badge but also sparked curiosity and enthusiasm for aerospace careers and aviation service. By combining technical education with real-world experience, the Civil Air Patrol demonstrated its commitment to developing the next generation of aviation professionals.

For many of the scouts, the day was more than just a badge requirement, it was an inspiring introduction to the possibilities of flight and the people who make it possible every day.

(Pictured, 2nd Lt. Christian Perry takes a selfie as Capt. Christian Zornitta assists a scout flying the Redbird simulator, which replicates the Cessna 182 flown by this CAP squadron.)

Capture the moment: We need your STEM photos

If you missed it last month, the Aerospace Education team is always looking for high-quality photos of squadrons and classrooms engaging with AEX lessons, ACE activities, and STEM Kits. These images are vital for our promotional materials, national impact statements, and new educational materials. Your students' hard work could be the face of CAP AE!

What we’re looking for:

• Action Shots: Students and cadets actively working on kits or lessons
• Teaching Shots: AEOs and AEMs leading activities and interacting with students
• Engagement: Candid moments of discovery and teamwork
• Variety: Photos from both classrooms and squadron meetings

Important Reminder: Please ensure that any youth pictured have a signed media release on file and that guardians have granted permission for their images to be shared publicly.

Ready to share? Please send your high-resolution photos to ae@capnhq.gov. Please put "AE photos" in the subject line.

(Featured: Photos from TX-035)

(Welcome to AE Safety Check - things to consider as you lead or participate in an Aerospace Education activity. The writer of this monthly feature is Lt. Col. Karen Cooper, National AE Manager, who works in safety and risk management on the AE National Headquarters Staff and is also the Northeast Region DCS/Aerospace Education.)

If you have a safety topic you would like to be included in this space, please email kcooper@ner.cap.gov.

All Aerospace Education Members (AEMs) are offered an annual FREE “in-kind renewal." The online renewal email is sent 60 days prior to the membership expiration date. A renewal banner appears at the top of the eServices sign-in page 90 days prior to expiring. (You can’t renew earlier than 90 days.) Find additional information at the link below.

AEOs, reach out to your AEMs whose memberships expire within 60 days or whose memberships have expired. For more guidance, see Recruiting and Retention of AEMs on the AEO Resources page link below.

Please note: CAP has several categories of membership, but each member can only be assigned one category of membership. Any adult uniformed member, who is an educator, may access all the resources available to an AEM. 

Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education

Contact: Aerospace Education

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/ae