CAP Foundation Creates Diversity Scholarship for Cadets, Adult Members

The Civil Air Patrol Foundation has launched the CAP Foundation Diversity Scholarship, aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within CAP.

The scholarship has been established to facilitate the ability of CAP cadets and adult members from historically underrepresented, underserved, and under-resourced communities to access and participate in CAP activities.

“The Civil Air Patrol Foundation believes this scholarship will help to grow  the diversity in leadership across Civil Air Patrol,” said Col. Raj Kothari, chair of the foundation’s board of trustees.

“CAP Foundation members are so committed to this endeavor they made personal contributions to establish this new scholarship,” Kothari said. “The new scholarship aligns with the CAP Foundation's strategic goal of dedicating 10% annually to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in CAP."

The CAP Foundation Diversity Scholarship will:

• Assist and encourage participation: It aims to help and encourage qualified CAP members from diverse backgrounds to participate in CAP activities and programs at various levels, from the local unit to wing, region, and national levels. In select cases, the scholarship may also support participation in local unit programs and activities.
   
• Support leadership aspirations: The scholarship helps ensure members from diverse identity groups, who have indicated their intention of progressing into CAP leadership roles, receive the financial support needed to realize their leadership goals.
   
• Enhance recruitment and retention: It functions as a recruitment and retention tool to help squadrons that support historically underrepresented, underserved, and under-resourced communities overcome any barriers to access created by initial membership fees, uniform purchases, and other barriers to joining CAP.