Aerospace education and hands-on learning took center stage for two days at a New Jersey middle school thanks to collaboration with the local Civil Air Patrol squadron
STEAM educator Mieko Inghelleri, a Civil Air Patrol teacher member, teamed Nov 14-15 with the Twin Pine Composite Squadron’s commander, 1st Lt. Nicholas Kunchandy, and Maj. Wasim Baig, the wing’s director of operations as well as the squadron operations officer. Twin Pine cadets participated as well in the two-day activity at Fisher Township’s Fisher Middle School, which immersed students in STEM opportunities and bridged classroom learning with real-world applications.
The event began with Baig, who attended what was then Fisher Junior High from 1979-1981, flying Inghelleri above the campus in a Civil Air Patrol aircraft. Baig, who fondly recalled watching the first space shuttle launch in April 1981 as a Fisher student, guided the students watchng below with live commentary while Kunchandy used a handheld radio to transmit the pilot’s delivery.
Before the actual flight, as Inghelleri and Baig waited on the runway at Trenton-Mercer Airport, Kunchandy joined Cadet Master Sgt. Madison Couvertier,a 2024 Fisher graduate, and Cadet Senior Airman Yana Agrawal in addressing Inghelleri’s sixth- through eighth-graders. They explained preflight operations and protocols preceding takeoff.
On Day Two, the students heard from Twin Pine cadets and adult members about their experiences in CAP.
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Peter Durda, Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Anirudh Tanguturi, 2nd Lt. Lucy Couvertier, adult member Pradeep Kaur. and parent sponsor member Jaclyn Ward addressed the leadership skills, discipline, and opportunities CAP offers.
The adult members emphasized how the organizations offers more than just aerospace education, with Couvertier telling her young audience that “CAP is about serving others, developing leadership skills, and giving back to the community.”
Tanguturi shared his journey within CAP, emphasizing the life skills and leadership training he has gained. “CAP has taught me how to lead with responsibility and work as part of a team,” he said. “It’s not just about aviation — it’s about growing as a person and making a difference in the community.”
Durda spoke about the confidence and discipline he’s developed through the program. “CAP has given me a chance to be part of something bigger than myself,” he said.
As part of the aerospace education aspect of the activity, cadets helped Inghelleri’s students through a hands-on STEM challenge focused on Newton’s Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Working in teams to design and build a prototype of Newton’s Cradle, the students sketched designs, listed materials, and created their prototypes in just 45 minutes. The project encouraged creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork as they thought like engineers to overcome design challenges within the constraints of time and resources.
The cadets offered tips on how to structure designs and helped students troubleshoot problems as they worked to complete their models. They left with an important takeaway: STEM education happens not just in the classroom but also when students engage with real-world challenges.
During lunch hours, the squadron members set up a display table outside the cafeteria, sharing information about CAP and encouraging students to learn more about the program. Many stopped by to inquire about the opportunities CAP offers.
“This experience not only highlighted the value of CAP but also demonstrated how students can apply the skills they learn in the program to make a positive impact in schools and their community,” Lucy Couvertier said afterward.
