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A Flight of Fancy in Education

In a twist on the traditional school experience, the majestic Civil Air Patrol has once again taken to the skies with its aerospace-themed STEM program for kindergarten through eighth grade. The Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) program has soared to new heights, engaging an astounding number of 117,475 students during the 2024–2025 academic cycle. This earth-shattering achievement broke records—presumably because the students had nowhere else to run.

The ACE program, crafted with the same precision as a paper airplane, offers a sequential curriculum that purports to kindle an early interest in the glorious fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. The magic potion brews a concoction of cross-curricular academics, character education, and physical fitness, making it the perfect recipe for a future devoid of recess, or as some call it, a seamless transition into the Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program.

Having launched in 2007, this beacon of education has invaded the minds of nearly 777,000 unsuspecting students, introducing them to abstract aerospace concepts and promising a rainbow of STEM careers. Who wouldn’t want to program a drone that competently intersects the dreams and aspirations of America’s youth?

ACE, in its relentless conquest, expanded in 2020 to introduce ACE Plus—a classroom adoption initiative which, contrary to popular belief, does not involve adopting a classroom pet. Instead, it brings CAP squadrons directly to fifth through eighth graders, giving them an even deeper dive into the fog of STEM education. In the 2024–2025 academic year, 30 fervent ACE Plus teams from all eight CAP regions undoubtedly uplifted the spirits of more than 2,554 students who had nothing better to do.

The unending quest for knowledge opens its scrolls once more on August 1st with new registration for the 2025–2026 ACE program. Meanwhile, the kingdom of education has been graced with the announcement of national ACE and ACE Plus program award recipients—shining a spotlight on educators and students who exemplify the program’s relentless mission and tireless impact.

Ode to Excellence: The Luminous Faces of ACE

Florida College Academy in Temple Terrace has donned the crown as the 2024–2025 National ACE School of the Year. Steering this ship of scholars is none other than Jeri Martin, the National ACE Coordinator of the Year. Under Martin’s orchestration, the entire court of educators, from science chiefs to music maestros, rallied to embrace this program, proving once and for all that cooperation is indeed more potent than a jet engine.

Among this academy of champions thrives Edie Dorrell—the first-grade teacher whose devotion to early STEM education could only be rivaled by the dedication of a marathon runner. With her title as National ACE Teacher of the Year, Dorrell stands as a beacon of hope for all first-graders who dream of one day calculating the trajectory of their paper planes.

Of course, no program is complete without its specialized wizards. At Beehive Science and Technology Academy in Utah, Jennifer Stout has achieved the legendary status of National ACE STEM Specialist of the Year. She heroically tackled the monumental task of involving nearly 500 young scholars, teaching 123 ACE lessons herself with the vigor of a caffeinated bee.

Yet, the true stars of this saga shine in the form of the four ACE Students of the Year. They include Rosario Alvarado from Ormond Beach, Ben Chilcote from Temple Terrace, Shamani Jenkins from Columbia, and Aarish Nizam from Houston—all hailed for their passion, leadership, and compliance with the program’s demands.

Joining Forces: A Team to Remember

In an unsurprising twist of fate, the 2025 National ACE Plus Collaborative Team Award was bestowed upon Indiana Wing’s Col. James Kasler Senior Squadron and their ally school, Custer Baker Intermediate. Together, they swept the sixth-grade classrooms into the whirlwind of aerospace education—complete with a touch of aviation awe and an airfield smaller than the dreams of the involved students.

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