NRA Announces 2017 Youth Education Summit Participants

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

To learn more about the Youth Education Summit program, click here.