DALTON, Ga. — Cadet Capt. Hannah Miller was awarded the prestigious Amelia Earhart Award from the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and its Georgia Wing for her outstanding efforts as a cadet in the group’s Dalton squadron.

Named for the pioneering aviatrix, the award marks completion of Phase III of the CAP cadet program, recognizing sustained excellence in all four areas of cadet life: leadership, aerospace, fitness and character.

Earhart Award cadets must have passed comprehensive examinations on leadership and aerospace topics. Since its inception in 1964, fewer than 5 percent of CAP cadets have achieved this award.

Miller, a junior in high school, has been a CAP cadet for a short two-and-a-half years.

“I was originally interested in an aviation career,” she said. “And I am currently pursuing my private pilot’s license. I was three years old when I saw my first air show and it captivated me. But now, I have also fallen in love with multiple aspects of this program: leadership, emergency services, ground teams and more. I have learned so much, and am thrilled to achieve the Earhart.”

Today, she is interested in attending one of the U.S. service academies and is actively pursuing various summer camp opportunities sponsored by those schools. She has already been accepted to one sponsored by the U.S. Naval Academy. Camps are typically one week long and allow students to experience what life would be like in a service academy, including academic classes. Miller and six other cadets from her squadron are also currently attending WESS, or the Wing Emergency Services School, held in Alabama one weekend a month, and are scheduled to graduate in April.

Miller serves as the flight commander for her squadron and is the only officer. In that role, she is thrilled to have the opportunity to mentor and motivate other cadets. She also serves as a member of the cadet advisory council for CAP Georgia Wing, the state branch of the national organization.

Her squadron commander, Capt. Eric Rochelle, called her a “wonderful example of the best and brightest in CAP cadets.”

“Our unit, GA-108 Whitfield-Murray Cadet Squadron, has been in our current Dalton location since May 2016, a fairly short time given that CAP was founded in 1941,” Rochelle said. “Miller joined approximately one month after that, and has made amazing contributions to her cadet program. Her drive and determination make a huge difference in how the cadets accomplish their missions, led by her sense of responsibility. She is a well-spoken and smart young lady who very much deserved this recognition.”

As a busy student, Miller is ranked third in academics at her high school. She is also an accomplished dancer, studying ballet for 13 years.

“At first, people think my CAP and dancing are polar opposites,” she said. “I think they are very similar in terms of discipline and attention to detail.”

Miller has graduated from the summer Georgia Wing Encampment and also the two-week Cadet Aviation Ground School. The Ground School provides an endorsement that allows students to take the written exam for a private pilot’s license. In addition to flight commander, she has served as cadet public affairs noncommissioned officer, cadet aerospace education officer, flight sergeant, first sergeant, cadet public affairs officer, cadet leadership officer and cadet emergency services officer.

The squadron meets each Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Learning Tree Elementary School in Dalton. Youth from ages 12 to 18, along with their parents, are invited to attend and learn more about the CAP cadet program. Adults over age 18 are also welcome to join the senior squadron. For more information, contact Rochelle at (706) 847-9906.

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force, which consists of regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with Air Force retired military and civilian employees.

CAP operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, and is credited by the center with saving an average of 78 lives annually.

Civil Air Patrol’s 56,000 members nationwide also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Its members additionally play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program.

Performing missions for America for the past 77 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.