by 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 DaveyAlaska: Sophia PuliaficoArkansas: Alex HenryArizona: Kira DeanArizona: Cristian LeeCalifornia: Emily CuppCalifornia: Brent HinchcliffCalifornia: Isabella OrozcoColorado: Gage ParisFlorida: Dennis HullFlorida: Peter LeonardGeorgia: Sawyer WilliamsHawaii: Iceley AndayaIllinois: Krzysztof GajdaIllinois: Natalie SeamanIndiana: Matthew BurtonKentucky: Andrew SissonKentucky: Allen SlaughterLouisiana: Canlin DionneLouisiana: Jonah FinleyMassachusetts: Amby TierneyMaryland: Madeleine SateriMinnesota: Therese MinwegenMissouri: Mary (Mikey) SchadMontana: Hanna AntonsenNorth Carolina: Jared LockhartNebraska: Jamison SappNew Jersey: Zelan Von KaenelNew Mexico: David VelezNew York: Reade BenNew York: Gianna GuzzoOhio: Quinton TaylorOklahoma: Jonathan McCormick Jr.Oregon: Owen VredenburgPennsylvania: Lauren KlimaSouth Carolina: Brad LehmanTennessee: Lincoln DillmanTexas: Kaitlyn CallawayTexas: Stephen GarnerTexas: Denise ShafferUtah: Marlie RootVirginia: Rylie PennellWashington: Simon SefzikWisconsin: Emily RasmussenWest Virginia: Katelyn SetteWyoming: Kaden Gaukel