U.S. Navy Blue Angels maintenance specialist AD2(AW) K.C. Cross spoke to Polaris Career Center students while the team was in town participating in the Cleveland National Air Show. (Beth Mlady/special to cleveland.com)

MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron visited Polaris Career Center Sept. 2, encouraging students to find their passion and soar.

In town for the Cleveland National Air Show, Lt. Chris Kapuschansky, one of six pilots on the team, and maintenance crew member AD2(AW) K.C. Cross spoke about their Navy experiences.

They addressed students enrolled in the school’s aeronautics, criminal justice, EMT/fire training, medical, pre-nursing, precision CNC machining and welding technology programs.

“We like to inspire a culture of excellence in service to country,” Kapuschansky said. “That doesn’t mean you have to go out and join the military … but you’ve got to be the best at what you’re going to do every single day.”

He explained the team’s rigorous regimen, which includes traveling across the country approximately 300 days during the year. The Blue Angels team is comprised of 142 people, of which 50 actually travel with the performance squadron.

Kapuschansky then stressed the important qualities an effective, cohesive team must possess, such as mutual respect, trust, hard work and maximum effort.

U.S. Navy Blue Angels pilot Lt. Chris Kapuschansky urged students to always strive to put forth their best effort in everything they do. (Beth Mlady/special to cleveland.com)

“Trust is the biggest attribute for a successful team,” he said. “We’re flying only 18 inches apart, and I trust AD2 Cross with my life, because she does every single pre-flight check. I place all of my trust in her experience and knowledge and in the rest of her team as well.”

For Cross, one of nine children from a small-town Georgia family, the Navy became her chosen career path, even though she had no prior mechanical experience and never envisioned aviation in her future.

“But it was something that, because I love to travel and love to fly, I figured why not learn what makes the planes fly?” Cross recalled.

“I work on the plane engines every day, on anything having to do with engineering and the mechanics of an engine.

“It’s OK if you don’t know right now what you want to do, as long as you aim to do something that affects the world in a positive manner,” she emphasized. “This was my opportunity to make my family proud.”

“I want you to maximize every little effort you put forward in your everyday life and become that better version of yourself,” Kapuschansky added.

Read more stories from the News Sun.

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022).

© 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.

Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.