Since 1996, the NRA has hosted an incredible opportunity for rising high school juniors and seniors: It's called the NRA Youth Education Summit. It's an adventure, it's an unparalleled learning experience, and it's a way to help pay for college. Y.E.S. indeed: With support from Friends of NRA Committees and Field Representatives, the program has awarded over $700,000 in scholarships to date.
The Y.E.S. "Class of 2024" toured and explored the D.C. Metro area from July 16th-21st on NRA's all-expense-paid program. As always, it brought together some of America's most promising young leaders to engage with our nation’s history and political landscape. And as always, the students left enriched with a once-in-a-lifetime experience they'll never forget.
This year's summit hosted 22 students who enjoyed activities that challenged and enlightened, such as competitive debates, visits to key landmarks and insightful discussions with notable NRA figures. The week also featured explorations of Capitol Hill, the National Archives Museum and various monuments and memorials, including a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Other highlights included a visit to NRA Headquarters, where Y.E.S. students had the opportunity to shoot at the NRA Range—a favorite among attendees, even for those who had never shot guns before. Indeed, the Youth Education Summit is open to any student who fulfills the qualifications--it's not necessary for an applicant to be a skilled shooter.
Annie D. from Mobile, Alabama commented that Y.E.S. “has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It has allowed me to make everlasting friendships with people on the other side of the country who I would not have met without this wonderful program. On top of that, it's taken me out of my comfort zone, allowing me to do things which I've never really done before, and having fun with it at the same time. I'm forever grateful for what the NRA has done for me.”
Debates were a key component of the summit, with students tackling topics such as "Artificial Intelligence Should Be Utilized by The Government,” “Students Should Be Allowed to Carry Firearms on College Campuses," and “The U.S. Should Be Involved in Foreign Wars.” Their performance in these debates, along with overall participation, current events discussion, attentiveness and willingness to learn contributed to the awarding of $16,000 in End-of-Week scholarships.
Y.E.S. students return to their communities with a solid grasp of NRA programs and the shooting sports, and the motivation to introduce these programs locally. Popular programs to bring back home include safety programs such as the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program, Refuse to be a Victim and Women on Target. This year's students have 10 months to promote NRA programs and gun safety in their communities, document their efforts in a portfolio, and apply for the Grand Scholarship, which features a prize pool exceeding $20,000!
Applications for the 2025 NRA Youth Education Summit will open in Fall 2024. To learn more about this enriching program, visit YES.NRA.org and follow Y.E.S. on Facebook and Instagram at @NRAYouthEducationSummit for updates.
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