The LaACES program exposes students to the aerospace project development life cycle using the design, fabrication, testing, and operation of small payloads (i.e. ~500 grams) launched on a latex sounding balloon vehicle which carries these experiments to the edge of space (~32-35 kilometers altitude). Practical experience is provided with over 30 hands-on activities that use a collection of pre-packaged electronic kits. These activities and kits, developed by LaSPACE, enable the students to learn how to identify electronic components, solder, read an electronic schematic, trouble shoot an electronic circuit, and calibrate sensors. The students also assemble the LaACES BalloonSat controller, in addition to learning real-time programming and sensor interfacing, later on in the program as their balloon payload controller. An important component to LaACES is the Project Management unit where students learn, among other topics, the typical project phases, how to identify and organize tasks, how to specify and manage risk, defining requirements, system design, technical documentation and presentation skills, as well as team work. Almost all of the concepts taught during this first semester are crucial professional skills for the students which are applicable to any career. At the end of the academic year, once all payloads are completed, teams from across Louisiana gather at the NASA CSBF site in Palestine, TX for the week-long flight operations event. On flight day, all payloads are strung together and attached to a latex weather balloon. Once released, the vehicle ascends at a rate of about 1,100 feet per minute and takes about 90 minutes to reach a peak altitude of about 100,000 feet where the balloon is cut away and the payloads descend to the ground via parachute. After the payloads are recovered the students proceed with their data analysis and must present their science results to CSBF staff and engineers two days later. This trip is universally acclaimed by students as the highlight of the year that enables them to fully appreciate the utility of what they learned as no other single event can.