The 2010 National Rifle and Pistol Championships kicks off July 12 at Camp Perry in Port Clinton, Ohio. Conducted by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) with assistance from the Ohio National Guard, these matches have long been considered the “World Series of the Shooting Sports.” A tradition at Camp Perry since 1907, the event is divided into five separate phases: Pistol, Smallbore 3-Position, Smallbore Prone, High Power, and Long Range.

“For more than 100 years, thousands of contenders have journeyed to Camp Perry with family and friends to compete amongst the best shooters in the world,” said NRA President Ron Schmeits. “It’s a true expression of freedom, sportsmanship, and exercising of our second amendment rights.”

The National Matches begin each year in early July with the National Pistol Championships and conclude in August with the Long Range High Power Championship. Competitors represent a vast array of experience including novice shooters, Olympic medalists, law enforcement officers, military personnel, and international competitors.

MidwayUSA is the Title Sponsor for the 2010 National Championships, joined by Universal Coin & Bullion for the Pistol Championships, Springfield Armory for the NRA/Springfield M1A match, and Pierce Bullet Seal Target Systems for the High Power Championships. The support of new and returning sponsors shows a continued dedication to the competitive shooting sports and will allow for an enhanced awards schedule.    

The schedule for the 2010 National Championships is as follows:

July 12:                                 First Shot Ceremony

July 13-17:                           NRA National Pistol Championships

July 21-24:                           NRA National Smallbore Rifle Position Championships

July 25-29:                           NRA National Smallbore Rifle Prone Championships

August 8:                             NRA/Springfield M1A Match

August 10-13:    NRA National High Power Rifle Championships

August 14-17:    NRA Long Range Championship

To receive up to the minute reports, photos, and results during the Championships, check www.nrablog.com. For more on the National Rifle and Pistol Championships at Camp Perry, or other competitive shooting events or programs, visit www.nrahq.org/compete or call (703) 267-1450.

Remember September 2009’s issue of InSights, when we introduced you to the Youth Education Summit’s Class of ‘09? Well, the NRA Foundation has awarded a total of $20,000 through the 2010 Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) Grand Scholarship contest, whose pool of applicants came from 2009 summit attendees. The scholarships are paid directly to the accredited college or technical school of the student’s choice.

 Scholarships awarded include:

$6,000 - Alyssa Ferrin, Phoenix, Arizona
$5,000 - Ben French, Paradise, Montana
$3,000 - Holly Stewart, Nashville, Tennessee
$3,000 - Alexis Zobel, Shelbyville, Indiana
$1,500 - Stacy Schlotzhauer, New Franklin, Missouri
$500 - Korbin Kiblinger, Redmond, Oregon
$500 - Justice Locatelli, Corralitos, California
$500 - Lisa-Marie Rieckhoff, West Allis, Wisconsin
Honorable Mention - Mackenzie DeRuyter, Valleyford, Washington
Honorable Mention - Colin Wait, Durango, Colorado

 To apply, students must first attend the national Youth Education Summit. After attending, students have eight months to work on a Grand Scholarship application where they develop a portfolio that communicates their experience at Y.E.S. and how it has contributed to their personal growth and introduce an NRA program to their community.  Many students talked with local media, volunteered at Friends of NRA events, and started Eddie Eagle GunSafe® programs in their communities.  Applications were judged on quality, diversification, and quantity. All of the entries showed impressive characteristics of each individual.

This program is funded through state grants from The NRA Foundation. Much of the money is raised through Friends of NRA, a grassroots-fundraising program utilizing banquets and auctions as a primary means to fundraise.

The Youth Education Summit is a seven-day, expense paid educational experience in Washington, D.C. for rising high school juniors and seniors. While in the nation’s capital, students learn the significance of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights while developing an understanding of federal government and the importance of active participation. The National Rifle Association started Y.E.S. in an effort to encourage America’s youth to become active and knowledgeable citizens.  The 2010 program takes place on July 12 - 18.  For more information, visit www.friendsofnra.org/yes or contact Senior Event Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon at (800) 672-3888 ext. 1342, or by email at nmcmahon@nrahq.org.

Friends of NRA is a grassroots fundraising program designed to generate support for NRA educational programs. Working with NRA field representatives, volunteers organize banquets in their communities, complete with auctions, raffles and door prizes. Since 1993, more than 15,000 Friends of NRA events have been held across the country, raising over $140 million. Half the proceeds are used to support local and state shooting sports programs and the other half is awarded to qualifying national programs. More information about Friends of NRA can be found online at www.friendsofnra.org or by calling (800) 672-3888 ext. 1354. 

In order to accommodate requests, the National Rifle Association is now accepting entries for its 2009 Youth Wildlife Art Contest through November 5. The contest, the 22nd in the annual series, is open to students in grades 1 through 12, including home-schooled children. NRA membership is not required. Winners in each grade category will receive $500. Second-place finishers will receive $250, and the third-place award will be $100.

Entries will be placed in one of four categories, based on school grade. Category I includes grades 1 through 3 and Category II is for grades 4 through 6. Category III covers grades 7 through 9, and Category IV includes grades 10 through 12. Entries may portray any North American game bird or animal that may be legally hunted or trapped. Endangered species and non-game animals, such as eagles and snakes, are not eligible subjects. Contestants may call (703) 267-1588 to confirm whether a certain animal or bird is eligible or view a complete list at http://www.nrahq.org/youth/wildlife.asp.

Contestants are limited to one entry each. Entries may be in a medium of the artist’s choice (oil, water color, pastels, pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, etc.). Submissions should be on good quality bond or drawing paper, or illustration board. Preferred sizes for the image are 8-1/2″ x 11″ or 11″ x 14″; matting is optional. Entries need not be framed. Composition must be original. Photographs may be used for reference, but artwork determined to have been traced or copied from an existing photograph or work of art will be disqualified.

Entries must arrive at NRA by November 5, 2009, and must be accompanied by a brief statement signed by the student’s parent, guardian, or teacher attesting to the originality of the work and verifying the artist’s grade level as of November 5, 2009. In addition, the artist’s name, age, home address, phone number, and grade must be printed on the back of the entry or on a note attached to the back of the entry. An optional submission form is available on the webpage for the contest. Entries will be judged on effort, creativity, anatomical accuracy, and composition.

Entries should be sent to: NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. Entries will be returned only if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. NRA assumes no responsibility for lost or damaged artwork, and reserves all rights to reproduce entries. The immediate families of NRA staff members are not eligible to enter. Questions regarding the contest may be directed to (703) 267-1588 or artcontest@nrahq.org.

The contest is supported through a generous gift from Jim Broering, President of AcuSport Corporation, for the creation of the James and Kathleen Broering Endowment.

Yankton, SD—Easton Sports Development Foundation and the National Field Archery Association Foundation are pleased to announce the Archery Scholarship Recipients for 2009.  Total scholarships of $20,000 were awarded to 20 student athletes in middle school, high school, and college that compete with either compound or recurve bows.  Individual scholarship awards varied from $500 to $5,000, with the top award going to Erika Anschutz of Hamilton, Ohio.

“Erika started competing when she was seven years old and she has excelled at all levels of archery from her first JOAD experience to her current status as a top member of the USA Archery World Team.  We are very pleased to award Erika our top scholarship award for 2009.  She is an outstanding example of an athlete committed to excellence in archery while also earning her degree at the University of Nebraska,” stated Bruce Cull, President NFAA.

Erika Anschutz stated, “I learned very early in archery that a disciplined effort, sharp mental focus, and hard work were critical for me to succeed from my first JOAD tournaments to the most recent National and International archery competitions.  Archery has helped me to develop the skills needed to not only compete successfully, but to also succeed in my personal and scholastic efforts.  I want to thank the Easton and NFAA Foundations for recognizing me with their top scholarship award in 2009.”

The NFAA Scholarship program started in 1990 to support student athletes that compete in archery and excel in academic and intellectual achievement.  Funding limitations in the past limited the value and number of scholarships that could be awarded each year.  “The Easton Foundation shares the NFAA Foundation goal to support student athletes that compete in archery.  Additional collegiate scholarships will help USA Archery grow their college archery program and strengthen future Olympic and World Championship Teams.  By combining our respective Foundation efforts, we can award more student scholarships in the future, and individual scholarship levels will be increased to more significant amounts.  In 2009, $20,000 was awarded to twenty of the 58 applicants.  We expect a major increase in the number of applications in future years, and plan to increase the level of total annual scholarship awards to $50,000 in 2010,” said Erik Watts, Director Easton Foundation.

The 2009-11 scholarships are funded by a $150,000 grant from the Easton Foundation to the Easton-NFAA Foundation Scholarship Program.  Future revenue from the Easton Foundation Archery Center of Excellence in Yankton, plus the scholarship donations from both individuals and companies will be placed in an endowment account to fund the scholarships in 2012 and beyond.

Dave Gordon, of Gordon Composites, has made a substantial contribution to the scholarship endowment fund.  Dave stated, “Archery has been a big part of both my personal and business success.  My contribution to the Easton-NFAA Foundation Scholarship program allows me to give back to the sport I love, and to award our very best archers and student athletes for their success in both archery and scholastic efforts.  I encourage everyone that shares my passion for archery and desire to support our young archers to make their own donation to the scholarship program.”  Individuals or companies interested in donating to the scholarship endowment fund or learning more about the program are encouraged to contact Bruce Cull, NFAA President.  The NFAA Foundation is a 501(c )3 Public Charity and all donations meet the IRS requirements as charitable donations.

Scholarship applications, program requirements, and additional information is available on the NFAA website at www.nfaa-archery.org, or from the NFAA Headquarters, 800 Archery Lane, Yankton, SD 57078.  All applications for 2010 scholarships must be submitted to the NFAA Office by December 31, 2009.   For additional information contact Marihelen Rogers, Executive Director, at 605-260-9279 Ext. 102 or at NFAAArchery@aol.com

Hey, Vermonters! Vermont’s Fish & Wildlife Department, together with the Vermont Big Game Trophy Club, is holding a Youth Hunting Memories Contest. All you need to enter is a short essay explaining why hunting is important to you, and describing a hunting experience that you had. A photo is encouraged, but not required (and do keep the photo tasteful, please). The contest is open to kids 16 and under; entries must be received by December 19, 2008.

The top entry from each Vermont county will win a special prize from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, and the top five entries will get to compete for an “Archery Only” hunt at Antelope Outfitters in Torrington, Wyo. The runner-up will win a two-day hare hunt at Pine Grove Lodge in Pleasant Ridge, Me. (Hunt winners must have successfully passed a hunter education course, and the archery winner needs to be able to draw a 35-pound bow.) For more information, visit http://vermontbiggametrophyclub.com.

Submissions can be e-mailed to Ann.Shangraw@state.vt.us or mailed to: 2008 Youth Hunting Memories Contest, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department , 103 South Main St., Bldg 10, South Waterbury, VT 05671-0501.

Description, Prizes & Deadline: The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund (NRACRDF) is once again sponsoring an essay contest celebrating the Second Amendment as an integral part of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The theme for the essay is “The Second Amendment to the Constitution: Why it is important to our nation.”

Essays will be judged in two categories: Senior (grades 10-12) and Junior (grades nine and below), with separate prizes awarded to the winners in each category. First prizes are $1,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds; second prizes, $600 in Savings Bonds; third prizes $200 in Savings Bonds; and honorable mention, $100 in Savings Bonds.

The entry deadline for this contest is December 1, 2008. Essay contest winners will be selected by the NRACRDF and notified in early 2009. Winners will have their names published in InSights, and one of the Official Journals.

Eligibility: The contest is open to all students enrolled, or who will be enrolled, in an elementary, junior high or high school during the 2008-2009 academic year, or homeschooled students in an equivalent grade level who have not previously received a prize. Essays will be judged on originality, scholarship and presentation.

Format and Contents: All essays should be about 1,000 words, neat, and legible (double spaced, typed preferred). Essays will be judged on originality, scholarship and presentation. Include your name, age, address, telephone number, school and grade on the essay and also submit a statement from a teacher or parent saying that the paper is your original work. All entries become the property of the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund.

Writing Contests & Scholarships:

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund,
Office of General Counsel,
11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: (703) 267-1250

Entries should be received by the Fund on or before the last day of the contest for which they are being submitted, although submissions postmarked on or before the deadline date, but arriving late, may be accepted at the Fund’s discretion. All entries become the property of the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund. To request further information and/or a list of scholarly references to aid in research in any of these writing contests, contact Karen Mellor at (703) 267-1268.

Click here for a copy of the 2008 Entry Form.

The National Rifle Association is now accepting entries for its 2008 Youth Wildlife Art Contest. The contest, the 21st in the annual series, is open to students in grades 1 through 12, including home-schooled children. NRA membership is not required. The deadline to enter is October 3, 2008. Winners in each grade category will receive $500. Second-place finishers will receive $250, and the third-place award will be $100.

Entries may be submitted in one of four categories, based on school grade. Category I includes grades 1 through 3. Category II is for grades 4 through 6. Category III covers grades 7 through 9, and Category IV includes grades 10 through 12. Entries may portray any North American game bird or animal that may be legally hunted or trapped. Endangered species and non-game animals, such as eagles and snakes, are not eligible subjects. Contestants may call (703) 267-1595 to confirm whether a certain animal or bird is eligible.

Contestants are limited to one entry each. Entries may be in a medium of the artist’s choice (oil, water color, pastels, pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, etc.). Submissions should be on good quality bond or drawing paper, or illustration board. Preferred sizes for the image are 8½”x11″ or 11″x14″; matting is optional. Entries need not be framed. Composition must be original. Photographs may be used for reference, but artwork determined to have been traced or copied from an existing photograph or work of art will be disqualified.

Entries must arrive at NRA by October 3, 2008, and must be accompanied by a brief statement signed by the student’s parent, guardian, or teacher attesting to the originality of the work and verifying the artist’s grade level as of October 3, 2008. In addition, the artist’s name, age, home address, phone number, and grade must be printed on the back of the entry or on a note attached to the back of the entry. An optional submission form is available here. Entries will be judged on effort, creativity, anatomical accuracy, and composition.

Entries should be sent to: NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. Entries will be returned only if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. NRA assumes no responsibility for lost or damaged artwork, and reserves all rights to reproduce entries. The immediate families of NRA staff members are not eligible to enter. Questions regarding the contest may be directed to (703) 267-1595 or artcontest@nrahq.org.

The contest is supported through a generous gift from Jim Broering, President of AcuSport Corporation, for the creation of the James and Kathleen Broering Endowment.