WENDELL -- Like most teenagers approaching 16, Hamilton Evrard was looking forward to getting his driver's license.

But Evrard had his eye on a license of a different kind.

His 16th birthday fell on a Saturday and he took his first solo flight. Two days later, he applied for a driver’s license.

Evrard learned to fly through a program sponsored by the Civil Air Patrol. Earlier this month, Evrard found himself in Washington D.C. picking up one of just three nationally-awarded Aerospace Leadership Scholarships.

The $2,500 award will allow Evrard to pursue continued flight instruction that will enable him to earn his full pilot’s license.

Evrard’s fascination with flying didn’t come from jet-setting parents.

When he was just 11, he took a martial arts class at the Wendell Community Center, where he spotted cadets in the Civil Air Patrol performing drills.

“I was really interested in what they were doing, so I found out who they were and as soon as I was old enough to join I did,” Evrard said.

The son of Rhonda Evrard of Wendell and Mark Evrard of Apex, Hamilton Evrard is not a one-dimensional boy.

He also plays the saxophone in the band at East Wake High School and he’s also on the tennis team.

But the flying bug has bitten him in a big way. He hopes to turn it into a career. Evrard hopes to win an appointment to the Air Force Academy.

If that doesn’t work out, the East Wake Junior plans to enroll in an Air Force ROTC program wherever he goes to college.

After that, he wants to pursue a flight career in the Air Force. A post-military career may include commercial piloting, but Evrard admits that’s a long way off.

For now, he’s enjoying the reward of a devoted young cadet.

Sponsored by the Spaatz Association, the Aerospace Leadership Scholarship is recognition of Evrard’s devotion to the Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet program.

Evrard attended a ceremony in Washington D.C. on March 1 to accept his scholarship.

Evrard is a Captain in the Cadet program. He hopes to rise to the rank of Colonel before he graduates from high school. He has already earned his ham radio license that allows him to participate in Civil Air Patrol search and rescue missions.

Despite his high level of involvement in the Cadet program, Evrard said winning the scholarship was more than a little surprise.

“It’s a national award and I knew there would be a lot of people interested in it. To think that I was one of the people they chose is just really amazing,” Evrard said.

But for a young man who earned his wings before he could drive a car, maybe it’s not that big a stretch.