On Aug. 13, the Civil Air Patrol Lehigh Valley Squadron presented an award to cadet Luke Lesisko, of Northampton, for his hard work and achievements as a young leader in the local Civil Air Patrol.

Lesisko received the Amelia Earhart Award. This award recognizes the recipient’s completion of Phase III and the mastery of 11 of the 16 cadet achievements. The Earhart Award opens a path for the cadet to work toward earning the next two awards: the General Ira C. Eaker and the General Carl A. Spaatz awards.

Visit lehighvalley.cap.gov for more information about the Civil Air Patrol Lehigh Valley.

Lesisko, a recent Northampton Area High School graduate, plans to further his studies at Marywood University, majoring in aviation management. Aviation management graduates can work in a department responsible for coordinating operations at an airport, airline or other businesses in the aviation field.

State Rep. Zach Mako, R-183rd, was on hand to present the award to Lesisko at a ceremony held at Tri-Boro Sportsmen Club, Northampton. Lesisko’s mother, Roxie, an assistant leader with the rank of lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol Lehigh Valley, said she was proud of her son’s achievement and thanked Mako for his ongoing support of the Civil Air Patrol Lehigh Valley.

Luke Lesisko was all smiles when he received the award, which also earned him the rank of captain.