Cadet Captain Christina Antonietta Zarrilli was awarded for the second year in a row the Chief Flying Eagle Scholarship to attend a Civil Air Patrol National Special Activity.

The Native American Flying Eagle Clan presents annual scholarships to cadets for Civil Air Patrol’s (CAP) intense summer training programs and encampments. The Clan recognizes CAP’s service to the United States and its valuable development young people. The Civil Air Patrol has three missions, Emergency Services, Aerospace Education and Cadet Programs. Teens have the opportunity to gain leadership experience, fly aircraft and gain emergency ground team skills. The Chief Flying Eagle Scholarship was primarily designed to help Native Americans, however non Native American applications are considered. Cadet applications included a letter as to why the scholarship is needed, a copy of cadet’s report card, and letters of recommendation, full-length photo, and an essay. It was Cadet Zarrilli last time being eligible for this award according to the Clan’s scholarship guidelines limits of number of times a single cadet may benefit.

It was Cadet Zarrilli’s essay on the importance of knowing one’s ethic background and respect for others that impressed the Clan and earned her this magnanimous scholarship. Excerpts from her essay express her convictions and ability to put them in action.

“Knowing ones’ ethic background is important because our culture influences our beliefs, actions and how we treat those around us. From a very young age I have been taught tolerance of other cultures and religions. As cadet commander of my Civil Air Patrol squadron, I must make accommodations necessary for respect of certain religious traditions. For example, I make sure to occasionally schedule squadron activities that are required for promotion on days other than Saturdays because many Jewish cadets have religious commitments. At my squadron we also have two very religious Muslim cadets who are required to pray at certain times during the day. I make sure my cadet staff arranges to excuse these cadets for those time periods. Respect is a Civil Air Patrol core value and one that I have learned from the time I was little. I always make sure to respect all cultures and traditions and as a cadet leader in Civil Air Patrol I teach my cadets to always do the same,” she wrote.

Cadet Captain Christina Zarrilli hopes to become an astronaut and used her scholarship this year to attend CAP’s Air Force Space Command Familiarization Course. A member of CAP for four years, Cadet Zarrilli received the Amelia Earhart Award in May 2006 earning her the rank of Captain. She currently serves as Boca Raton Composite Squadron’s Cadet Commander. With 31 college credits under her belt, this 15-year-old is a sophomore at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, participating in a new experimental program for talented high school students.

Cadet Captain Christina Zarrilli has been be recognized for her outstanding service by numerous organizations. The Marine Corps League, Military Order of Devil Dogs, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and Air Force Sergeant’s Association have all recognition Cadet Zarrilli for her community participation, outstanding leadership and excellent academic record. She has received the Air Force Association’s Outstanding Cadet of the Year Award. The American Red Cross awarded her their Real Heroes Youth Good Samaritan Award in 2005. CAP presented her with their prestigious Life Saving Award.

Civil Air Patrol www.cap.gov or www.flwg.us

Boca Raton Composite Squadron meets Tuesday 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Boca Raton Airport north entrance by Lynn University Aviation.

This entry was posted by Taman Siswa on Saturday, September 2, 2006 at 3:38 am and is filed under Education News, Scholarship. Tags: College, Education News, Scholarship, Student, . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.