The National Rifle Association’s Youth Education Summit (YES) starts today in Washington, DC. It is a seven-day educational experience for selected students from around the country. They will be visiting various places in our nation’s capital, will participate in discussions related to current events, and will have the opportunity to win college scholarships. The goal of the program is to promote active citizenship.

Congratulations to those selected from around the country.

From the NRA on the summit:

FAIRFAX, Va. – The National Rifle Association is
pleased to announce the students selected to attend the 2017 Youth
Education Summit (Y.E.S.), a seven-day educational experience in
Washington, D.C., scheduled for July 24-30, 2017.  

As part of Y.E.S., students from across the United States learn the
significance of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the
importance of being an active citizen as they visit memorials and
monuments throughout the nation’s capital. Scheduled stops include the
Capitol Building, the National Museum of American History, and the
National Museum of the Marine Corps, the National Archives, the Newseum,
Mount Vernon, and a safe introduction to the shooting sports at NRA
Headquarters. Students will also participate in discussion about current
events to have them learn from each other, to learn more about new
topics. Additionally students will be assigned a team debate topic,
which is meant to foster teamwork abilities, research capabilities, and
leadership skills. 

Students who excel in the week’s activities through demonstrating
strong leadership, public speaking, and debate skills will be awarded up
to $15,000 in college scholarships at the summit’s closing ceremony.
Following Y.E.S., an additional $25,000 in scholarships will be made
available through the Y.E.S. Grand Scholarship, which encourages
attendees to create a portfolio detailing the promotion of NRA programs,
like Eddie Eagle GunSafe® and Refuse To Be A Victim®, in their
communities.  

Any high school sophomore or junior in the United States is welcome
to apply to Y.E.S. The summit’s application process includes a written
essay on the Second Amendment, personal statement, transcript affirming a
minimum 3.00 grade point average, and three personal recommendations.
This year’s class of 46 was selected from hundreds of qualified
applicants. This year we are excited to have students from 35 states,
including both Alaska and Hawaii! 

The National Rifle Association launched the Youth Education Summit in
1996 (The state-level program started in 2002) to encourage America’s
youth to become active and knowledgeable citizens at both the national
and local levels. More than $500,000 in scholarships have been awarded
throughout the program’s 20-year history. Funding for Y.E.S. is provided
through The NRA Foundation from monies raised by Friends of NRA, a grassroots fund-raising program in support of the shooting sports.

2017 Y.E.S. Participants

Alaska: Grayson Davey

Alaska: Sophia Puliafico

Arkansas: Alex Henry

Arizona: Kira Dean

Arizona: Cristian Lee

California: Emily Cupp

California: Brent Hinchcliff

California: Isabella Orozco

Colorado: Gage Paris

Florida: Dennis Hull

Florida: Peter Leonard

Georgia: Sawyer Williams

Hawaii: Iceley Andaya

Illinois: Krzysztof Gajda

Illinois: Natalie Seaman

Indiana: Matthew Burton

Kentucky: Andrew Sisson

Kentucky: Allen Slaughter

Louisiana: Canlin Dionne

Louisiana: Jonah Finley

Massachusetts: Amby Tierney

Maryland: Madeleine Sateri

Minnesota: Therese Minwegen

Missouri: Mary (Mikey) Schad

Montana: Hanna Antonsen

North Carolina: Jared Lockhart

Nebraska: Jamison Sapp

New Jersey: Zelan Von Kaenel

New Mexico: David Velez

New York: Reade Ben

New York: Gianna Guzzo

Ohio: Quinton Taylor

Oklahoma: Jonathan McCormick Jr.

Oregon: Owen Vredenburg

Pennsylvania: Lauren Klima

South Carolina: Brad Lehman

Tennessee: Lincoln Dillman

Texas: Kaitlyn Callaway

Texas: Stephen Garner

Texas: Denise Shaffer

Utah: Marlie Root

Virginia: Rylie Pennell

Washington: Simon Sefzik

Wisconsin: Emily Rasmussen

West Virginia: Katelyn Sette

Wyoming: Kaden Gaukel