83 CAP Academic, Flight Scholarships Awarded

Civil Air Patrol’s 2018 scholarship finalists have been chosen to receive 83 awards collectively worth more than $132,000.

The finalists are from 33 states as well as Puerto Rico, representing all eight CAP regions.

“Congratulations! You are selected to receive a 2018 Civil Air Patrol Scholarship, and I commend you on your superior performance as a student, citizen and Civil Air Patrol member,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Smith, CAP’s national commander and CEO, who sent congratulatory letters to the recipients with instructions on how they can claim their awards.

The competition for the scholarships was intense, said Wendy Hamilton of CAP’s cadet program, with 244 applications for the academic and flight scholarships. One hundred and eighteen of the applicants had a 3.80 or higher grade-point average and an SAT score of 1311 and/or an ACT score of 30 or above, she said.

“These scores put our scholarship applicants on academic par with the U.S. Air Force Academy’s entering freshmen,” said Smith, who is a graduate of the academy.

“For the aviation-minded, 74 of our applicants indicated they have piloting experience equivalent to the CAP pre-solo badge or more,” he added.

Thirty-eight of the finalists will receive academic scholarships ranging from $2,500 Board of Governors awards to $1,000 USAA awards, and 45 will receive flight scholarships ranging from the $12,000 Continental Motors Group private pilot scholarship to an $800 national glider academy scholarship in memory of Capt. Stephen Merritt.

Cadet Capt. Angelymar Sanchez of the Puerto Rico Wing was selected to receive the Continental Motors Group scholarship, which will allow her to learn to fly.

Sanchez, 19, is a member of the Muñiz ANG Cadet Squadron. She is studying mechanical engineering at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus. Mechanical engineering is her passion, but she also hopes to one day introduce future CAP cadets to flight as an orientation pilot.

“I was also looking for any opportunity that can help me to pursue my second dream, to become a pilot,” she said. “I am grateful that CAP has such resources for us, the cadets. Every O-flight is a dream come true for a cadet that has just started an incredible journey along this hard path, but it is worth it. That is why I want to become an orientation pilot for CAP.”

Cadet 1st Lt. Abigail Mantooth of the Tennessee Wing is a recipient of the Capt. Stephen Merritt Memorial Glider Academy Scholarship. A member of the Morristown Composite Squadron, the 17-year-old plans to use the scholarship, named for a former CAP member, to attend the National Glider Academy in Tullahoma, Tennessee, this summer.

“This scholarship has opened many doors for me, considering my ultimate goal of becoming an Air Force pilot,” she said. “I am hoping that if I receive my solo rating for a glider, considering my past experience with motorized aircraft, I will have a better chance of receiving an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy.”

“This is a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to attend the glider academy and have the cost totally covered,” said Mantooth. “For this, I am truly grateful and will give nothing less than my best efforts.”

Sanchez is also thankful. “I never imagined I would be the recipient of the top flight scholarship from CAP, which is a great honor,” she said. “Hard work pays off!”