Civil Air Patrol ACE Liftoff Event

The Florida College Academy (FCA), located in Temple Terrace, was the site selected by the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) to hold their National Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) Liftoff Event. The event was held on Thursday, October 2, 2025, and was sponsored by the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA). The Waterman-Twining AFA Chapter has supported FCA by helping to purchase ACE T-shirts for FCA students, also participated in the event.

Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) is Civil Air Patrol’s grade-specific K-6 STEM program. The Florida College Academy was chosen for the event because it was named the ACE School of the Year, plus Ms. Jeri Martin was named the ACE Coordinator of the Year, Mrs. Edie Dorrell was named the ACE Teacher of the Year, and Ben Chilcote was named the ACE Student of the Year. These individuals are all from FCA.

Susan Mallett, head of the Aerospace/STEM Education Outreach office at the Civil Air Patrol National HQ, hosted the event and presented the Awards to the school and individuals.

The Keynote Speaker was NASA Astronaut Winston Scott, Capt. (Ret) U.S. Navy.

Other speakers included Col. David Panzera, CAP Florida Commander, Col. (Ret) Gary Copsey, AFA Vice Chair of the Board – Education, and Lt. Col. (Ret) Joseph Muhlberger, Waterman-Twining Chapter Vice President.