Civil Air Patrol Vermont Wing honors cadets with national award
Sept. 17, 2022 | News release
Cadet Capt. Nathanael Conyers of Waterbury, a Harwood sophomore, and Cadet Capt. Aden Cushman, a sophomore at Spaulding High School in Barre. Photo courtesy Vermont Wing of the Civil Air Patrol
MONTPELIER – The Vermont Wing of the Civil Air Patrol has awarded the Amelia Earhart Award to two Vermont cadets.
Col. Richard Beach, Commander of the Vermont Wing, conferred the honors to Cadet Captain Nathanael Conyers and Cadet Captain Aden Cushman, members of the Capital Composite Squadron based at Edward Knapp State Airport in Berlin.
Only 3% of Civil Air Patrol cadets nationwide earn the Earhart Award in honor of Amelia Earhart, an aviatrix, writer, and champion for civil rights who set many records in aviation’s infancy before her famous disappearance during her attempt to become the first woman to circumnavigate the globe in 1939.
The Earhart Award marks the cadets’ completion of Phase III of the Cadet Program, recognizing sustained excellence in all four areas of cadet life: leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character. Earhart Award cadets also must have passed comprehensive examinations on leadership and aerospace topics. Cadets who earn the Amelia Earhart Award are promoted to the grade of cadet captain and are challenged to lead and serve junior-ranking cadets in their hometown squadron and around the state. They also are eligible to represent the United States in the International Air Cadet Exchange.
Cadet Capt. Conyers joined Capital Composite Squadron in December 2019. He attended CAP Region Cadet Leadership School in December 2021 and the Northeast Region Glider Academy in July 2022. In August, he commanded a flight at the Connecticut/New Jersey Wing Encampment and currently serves as the Cadet Commander of Aerospace Education for Capital Composite Squadron. A Waterbury resident, Conyers is a sophomore at Harwood Union High School.
Cadet Capt. Cushman joined Capital Composite Squadron in July 2019 and also attended CAP Region Cadet Leadership School in December 2021 and Hawk Mountain Ranger School in July 2022. He commanded a flight at the Massachusetts Wing Encampment in July. He served as the Cadet Commander from March 2021 to May 2022 and currently is Cadet Commander of Emergency Services for Capital Composite Squadron. Cushman is a sophomore at Spaulding High School in Barre.
A civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol helps First Air Force rapidly respond to nonmilitary threats domestically in a Defense Support of Civil Authorities capacity to save lives, relieve suffering, prevent property damage, and provide humanitarian assistance. The Vermont Wing headquarters is located in South Burlington with squadrons around the state in South Burlington, Barre/Montpelier, Rutland, Bennington, and Springfield.
In the cadet program, youths ages 12-18 attend year-round activities where they learn to lead, fly airplanes, engage in STEM activities, organize events, gain outdoor skills to assist in search and rescue, participate in physical training, and more.
Vermont Wing members work with schools and community organizations to promote aerospace education, provide aerospace education instruction, and arrange field trips to local airports, aerospace companies, and organizations. The Vermont Wing provides search and rescue and disaster relief missions and other support for many local and federal agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Vermont State Police, Vermont Air National Guard. More information about the Vermont Wing is online at vtwg.cap.gov and the Civil Air Patrol at CAP.news or GoCivilAirPatrol.com.