Civil Air Patrol cadet receives achievement award

Civil Air Patrol Cadet Lt. Col. Sara J. Schofield received the General Ira Eaker Award on May 5.

Col. Jay Burrell, Great Lakes Region chief of staff, presented the award and congratulated Schofield on her outstanding achievement.

Schofield, a 16 year old student at Minooka Community High School and member of the Colonel Shorty Powers Composite Squadron, is committed to service before self, excellence in character, and professional development.

Schofield has been a member of the Civil Air Patrol since May of 2015. She has served in a variety of positions in the squadron including Flight Commander and First Sergeant.

She is currently the Cadet Commander as well as the Chairperson of the Illinois Wing Cadet Advisory Council, which affords her the opportunity to develop leadership skills while advising commanders on ways to improve the cadet program.

She most recently attended the Illinois Wing Spring Encampment at Great Lakes Naval Training Center where she served as a the Deputy Commander of Support and will be competing in the the Great Lakes Region Cadet Competition later this month.

Schofield is also actively involved in her high school tennis team and track team. She was recently accepted to the Robert Ayers Flight Academy in Hagerstown, Maryland and hopes to earn her private pilot license later this year.

After high school she aspires to be an officer in the United States Air Force.

Know more about the award and the Civil Air Patrol

The General Ira C. Eaker Award is one of the CAP Cadet Program's most prestigious award, second only to the General Carl A. Spatz Award, and honors one of the forefathers of an independent Air Force.

Colonel Shorty Powers Composite Squadron meets on Tuesday nights, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Bolingbrook's Clow International Airport in the Illinois Aviation Museum.

The program is for students who have a passion for aviation, dream of flight, may be are considering a career in the military and want to serve your community and enhance your leadership skills.

Youth ages 12 to 18, as well as parents and adults interested in the cadet and/or senior program, are always welcome to visit meetings and talk with staff.

For more information, visit il189.ilwg.cap.gov, GoCivilAirPatrol.com and CAP.news.