NRA Announces 2017 Youth Education Summit Participants

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posted on July 18, 2017
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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.

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