MOUNT VERNON — The Capt. Peter Chapman II Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, has received two prestigious annual awards from the Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
The Aerospace Education Excellence Award (AEX) is an activity-based program that recognizes those CAP units that actively engage their cadets in aerospace and STEM education.
In order to achieve this award, these units must meet certain criteria which include conducting a number of “hands-on” STEM activities and at least one two-hour “experiential field activity,” such as a museum tour, airport visit or eclipse viewing event during the year.
Also eligible for the AEX award are home school groups, classrooms and both formal and informal educators, who are enrolled in the Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education membership program.
This program provides free Aerospace and STEM resources for those members to bring into their classrooms.
The Quality Cadet Unit Award is awarded to those Civil Air Patrol units that display strong program fundamentals and maintain a vibrant cadet program.
To earn this coveted award, CAP cadet or composite units must meet six out of 10 criteria during the 12-month period. These criteria include excellence in Aerospace Education, such as the AEX award, cadet achievements, adult volunteer training completion, summer encampment attendance, total cadet enrollment, participation in cadet orientation flights, community engagement activities and STEM project participation such as the CyberPatriot competition, CAP/NASA joint project participation or the American Rocketry Challenge competition, to name a few.
“For a unit that is just one year old, this is validation of the hard work the cadets have done and the dedication of our adult volunteers,” Capt. Ronald Winget said.
The Capt. Peter Chapman II Composite Squadron, which serves Knox and surrounding counties, meets every Monday evening at 6 p.m. at the Knox County Airport terminal building.
The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program is open to youth ages 12 to 18. The program focuses on Leadership, Aerospace Education, Physical Fitness and Character Development.
For more information on the Cadet Program or adult volunteer opportunities, please contact Capt. John Morgan, CAP, at 740-263-1664.