West Orange Teen Earns Amelia Earhart Award From Civil Air Patrol

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Several Civil Air Patrol cadets from North Jersey recently earned awards at a ceremony held to honor their achievements.

Cadets with the Curtiss-Wright Composite Squadron were presented with two different honors during last month’s event: the Amelia Earhart Award, and the General Billy Mitchell Award.

The Curtiss-Wright Composite Squadron is a local unit of the Civil Air Patrol. It includes members from West Orange, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, East Hanover, Fairfield, Livingston, Morristown, Parsippany, Roseland and Wayne.

AMELIA EARHART AWARD

According to a news release from the squadron, the Amelia Earhart Award honors the legacy of Amelia Earhart, a pioneering aviator who set numerous records for women in aviation in the 1920s and 1930s. The award serves as an inspiration for cadets to pursue their dreams and strive for excellence.

The Amelia Earhart Award is a significant milestone within the cadet program, achieved after the General Billy Mitchell Award and the completion of 11 achievements. Cadets must pass a comprehensive exam on aerospace topics, leadership and staff duties.

Earning the Earhart Award signifies “significant dedication and accomplishment,” the squad reported. Recipients are promoted to cadet captain and gain eligibility for the International Air Cadet Exchange.

The awardees included:

• Erin Feeney, 16, West Orange High School
• Elias R. Bikales, 18, Millburn High School
• Michael E. Shayevich, 16, Livingston High School

Cadet commander Feeney was also named the 2024 Phase 3 Cadet of the Year for the squadron.

GENERAL BILLY MITCHELL AWARD

In addition, three cadets were presented with a General Billy Mitchell Award during the Dec. 17 ceremony.

The General Billy Mitchell Award marks the completion of the first phase of the cadet program. The award is earned after completing the first eight achievements of the cadet program. Mitchell recipients must pass a series of examinations on leadership and aerospace topics and have completed a week-long encampment immersing them in a challenging leadership and STEM environment. Mitchell Award recipients are eligible to attend CAP’s Cadet Officer School and the Civic Leadership Academy.

Recipients included:

• Claire Gao, 15, Livingston High School
• Dhir Patel, 18, Wayne Hills High School
• Shriaansh Sharma, 16, PCTI Stem Academy (Wayne)

The awards and promotions were presented by New Jersey Sen. John McKeon, CAP's Wing Commander Colonel Amy Myzie, Group Commander Lt. Col Jimy Menoutis, and Squadron Commander Lt. Col Carol McCloud.

McKeon also presented a joint resolution from the New Jersey Legislature that acknowledged the youths’ achievements.

• See Related: West Orange Teen Earns Prestigious Civil Air Patrol Award
• See Related: Livingston Youth Nails Down General Billy Mitchell Award
• See Related: Civil Air Patrol Reaches Out To Young Cadets In Essex County

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