Two Pegasus Cadets Receive Scholarships to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

AUSTIN, TX - Pegasus Composite Squadron, part of Group III, Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol, on Camp Mabry, is excited by the achievements of two of its top cadets being accepted with full 4 year ROTC scholarships to the number one aeronautical university in the country – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Campus and Daytona Beach Campus.

Cadet Captain Herakles Boardman will be attending Embry-Riddle, Daytona Beach in the Fall. He is the recipient of a 4 year Navy ROTC scholarship to major in aerospace engineering. This award is the result of many years of focused work and consistent growth. He was accepted into the math and science academy in junior high and graduated with a distinguished magnet diploma from the Lyndon Baines Johnson Liberal Arts and Science Academy of Austin. He has received many awards in music, Science Olympiad, track, and cross country; assuming leadership roles in band and cross country. Outside of school he has been active in his spiritual faith; he joined the cadet program of Civil Air Patrol in 2004; and obtained his private pilots license in the summer of 2006 at the age of 17 years, 2 days. In Civil Air Patrol he has attained both the General Billy Mitchell Award and the Amelia Earhart Award. He has also earned his HAM Radio license, General, with code.

Cadet Captain Steven Hamman has been accepted to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Prescott, Arizona. He is the recipient of a Type 1 USAF ROTC scholarship and plans to major in computer engineering. This scholarship is given to less than 5 % of applicants. Through individualized home school study, Cadet Hamman has distinguished himself with various awards in math and science through his participation in Science Bowl, Texas Math League, American Math Competitions, Mandelbrot and American Math Invitational Exam. He also maintained a 3.7 GPA at Austin Community College where he was enrolled as a dual-credit student. His extracurricular activities involved being an assistant instructor of the Round Rock Fencing Club, a member of the Brazos Bottom Cow'Ographers, and an actor and sound technician at Tablerock's theatre productions. In 2004, he joined the Civil Air Patrol. Since then, he was selected to attend Civil Air Patrol’s National Blue Beret Academy, was the squadron's color guard commander and was selected as Outstanding Color Guard Commander during the 2006 Texas Wing Cadet Competition. He earned the General Billy Mitchell Award and the Amelia Earhart Award. In December 2006 he was awarded Pegasus Squadron's Cadet of the Year.

Deputy Commander for Cadets, Ltc Debbie French commented, “Cadet Hamman is the Cadet Commander and has been instrumental in helping to rebuild the cadet program. He has been a role model at both Pegasus and Apollo Squadrons.” She went on to say, “Cadet Boardman was our first 17 year old pilot and HAM Operator in the squadron and has challenged cadets to achieve more than they ever have before.” Both are a credit to themselves, their parents, Pegasus Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, and their community.

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) maintains the world’s largest fleet (550) of single-engine, piston aircraft, as well as the Nation’s most extensive communications network. Through aerospace education, glider and powered orientation flights, flight training scholarships, and cadet programs, CAP serves its nearly 57,000 members, America's youth, and the public at large. CAP performs 95% of all inland search and rescue in the U.S., as tasked by the U.S. Air Force. CAP also flies aerial reconnaissance missions for homeland security, as well as disaster-relief and damage assessment operations. CAP transports time-sensitive medical material, and flies counterdrug missions for homeland security. For more information about the Pegasus Composite Squadron on Camp Mabry, in Austin, Texas please visit http://www.pegasuscap.org.

Article submitted by 1LT Daren Jaeger, Pegasus Composite Squadron Commander