Whiz Kid of the Week: Ashley Thornton

Ashley Thornton

Age: 16

School: Bishop Foley Catholic High School

Accomplishments: , Junior Civil Air Patrol, honor roll, Debate Club, Drama Club, varsity swim and tennis teams, 3.7 GPA

Key to Awesomeness: Not only does this teenager win the pageant, she's determined to be a leader. Through her involvement with the United States Air Force's volunteer group Civil Air Patrol — she's a 2nd Lieutenant in the 12-18 year-old Cadet division — Ashley has won a scholarship from the Women's Pilot Group for a week of flying lessons this summer in Wisconsin.

Later this summer she'll be off to Mississippi for undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base. Her college plans may include either the Air Force Academy, Western Michigan University or another institute of higher learning yet to be determined. Thornton has plans to study aeronautical engineering.

"In the Civil Air Patrol you learn leadership skills, aerospace skills and emergency services," said Ashley's mother, Mary Thornton. "The CAP does 90 percent of all 'search and rescues.' Her teacher, Monica Burke, at got her involved." She added, "Even if they don't go into the service (Air Force) they learn life skills that really do well."

Do you know a special kid or group in the community who deserves a round of applause? Everyone deserves a little attention, and we want to tell these stories. So e-mail Whiz Kid nominations to Editor Nicquel Terry at nicquel.terry@patch.com, fill out the information shown above and include a photo. Then come back every Wednesday for our Whiz Kid spotlight.