Civil Air Patrol’s Santa Barbara Composite Squadron 131 has announced that Cadet Captain Zoe Rychlik was recently awarded the Amelia Earhart Award.

The Amelia Earhart Award is one of Civil Air Patrol’s (CAP) highest cadet achievements, recognizing exceptional leadership, aerospace education, physical fitness, and character development. Fewer than five percent of Civil Air Patrol cadets nationwide earn this distinction.

“In all my time with Civil Air Patrol Santa Barbara Squadron, this is the highest honor I have ever seen a cadet achieve,” Squadron Commander First Lt. P. Sean Lavelle said of Rychlik’s award.

“Earning the Amelia Earhart Award marks a significant milestone in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program and reflects Cadet Captain Rychlik’s dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence,” squadron leaders said.

As part of her commitment to aviation, Rychlik recently attended the Civil Air Patrol National Flight Academy, where she completed 15 hours of flight training in pursuit of her pilot’s license.

The intensive flight experience provided her with hands-on aviation training and furthered her development as a young leader pursuing a future in aviation, the squadron said.

“Cadet Captain Rychlik’s accomplishments demonstrate what is possible when a young person combines dedication, discipline, and a genuine passion for aviation and service,” said Lavelle. “We are extremely proud of what she has achieved and look forward to seeing where her commitment to aviation and leadership takes her next.”

The Civil Air Patrol Santa Barbara Composite Squadron 131 welcomes youth interested in leadership, aviation, emergency services, and aerospace education, as well as adults interested in volunteering.

Founded in 1941 and established as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education, and to promote general aviation.

In an auxiliary role as a Total Force partner of the Air Force, CAP operates the world’s largest fleet of single-engine aircraft for search and rescue, disaster relief, training, and education.

For more, visit CAP.news or GoCivilAirPatrol.com.