FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA – Due to the large volume of late-arriving applications, the National Rifle Association has extended the application deadline for its 2008 Youth Education Summit (YES) to March 14. Scheduled for July 7-13 in Washington, D.C., the YES program provides a hands-on learning experience about the U.S. Government for 40 of the nation’s brightest high school sophomores and juniors.
Entry into the expense-paid program requires the submission of a completed application form, high school transcript, three-page essay on the Second Amendment, one-page personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. Interested students should have their application post-marked no later than March 14.
“I strongly encourage the youth of America to apply to this program, whereby they may experience the inner workings of government and participate in speeches and debates about current issues,” said past YES participant Caroline Cox of Southern Pines, N.C.
Activities on this year’s schedule include:
- · Guest speakers at NRA Headquarters and the National Firearms Museum.
- · Competitive debates with other high school students from across the nation.
- · Informative tours at historic sites and monuments in and around Washington, D.C.
- · A hands-on visit at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia.
In addition to the week in Washington, D.C., YES participants compete for $30,000 in college scholarships. The first round of awards totals $10,000 and is given at the conclusion of the YES program. A second round of scholarships, called grand scholarships, is comprised of $20,000 and involves a second application, available to the participants after they go through the YES program. Since the program’s inception in 1996, more than $200,000 in scholarships has been awarded.
For additional information on the 2008 Youth Education Summit and how to apply, please visit www.nrafoundation.org/yes, or call 1-800-672-3888, ext. 1354.
