Civil Air Patrol Cadet Capt. Daniel Groff has been interested in airplanes, engineering and physics since he was born 17 years ago.
And his interest is paying off.
Groff was set to receive the prestigious Amelia Earhart Leadership Award on Tuesday night at CAP’s Florence headquarters. The award was to be presented by Judge James E. Lockemy of Dillon, a member of the S.C. Court of Appeals.
The Earhart Award honors the late Amelia Earhart, a pioneer who set many records for women pilots in aviation’s infancy.
To receive the award, cadets must, among other criteria, pass a rigorous 100-question examination covering aerospace topics, leadership theory and staff duties.
“This is a great honor,” Groff said. “There are very few cadets who are actually able to accomplish the necessary skills to receive this award. Only 14,235 have received it since it was established in 1964.”
Groff said he heard about the CAP through his best friend, who was a member and recruited him.
Groff said he was attracted by CAP’s emergency services branch, leadership skills and involvement with the military style of life.
“I’ve been able to meet all types of cool people and go to activities that aren’t available in other organizations,” he said. “Last summer, I went to Oshkosh, Wis., to help work on the flight line of the Experimental Aviation Association, the world’s largest air show.”
The West Florence High School senior has received an academic scholarship to attend the University of Alabama. He plans to major in aeronautical engineering.
“I wanted to be a pilot but, because of medical reasons, I’m not going to be able to,” he said. “So I figured I might as well go ahead and design planes.”
Groff’s career goal is to get a commission in the Air Force and work as an aerospace design engineer. He wants to join the military because “I believe the military benefits are much better ... and to be able to give back to my country.”
Groff is the son of Butch and Brenda Addison Groff. His father is a native of Newport News, Va., and his mother grew up in Bennettsville. Butch Groff also is a member of the CAP.
The Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. Its missions are aerospace education, emergency services and the cadet program.
The 16-segment cadet program provides opportunities for the learning, maturing, accepting and nurturing of leadership to more than 26,000 Americans from 12 to 21.
Once a cadet earns the Earhart Award, he or she is promoted to the grade of cadet captain.
The members of Civil Air Patrol are volunteers. The funding for the different squadrons comes from different sources.
The Florence squadron receives its funding primarily from the United Way of Florence.
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