Tennessee is proud to have one of our very own attending the NRA National Youth Education Summit (YES) Program this July in Washington, D.C. Holly Nicole Stewart was chosen along with 44 other students from all across the United States for this program out of several hundreds of applicants.
Holly lives in Nashville and is the daughter of Barbara and Matthew Stewart. Her achievements are no less than impressive for this 17 year old that is home schooled with a 3.79 GPA. The abbreviated list of her accomplishments include Outstanding Citizenship Award - County (2008), 2nd Place Wildlife Food Plot-County (2008), High Individual Award, North American Cup Air Rifle Postal Match (2008), 3rd Place Air Rifle, Iowa 4-H Winter Postal Match (2008), Overall Rifle Champion-County 4-H Program (2007), 4-H State Finalist Runner-up in Citizenship and State Finalist in Leadership Projects (2007, 2008, 2009), and 1st Place High Individual-County 4-H Archery Program (2006).
Holly Stewart, 2009 Tennessee Yes RecipientIn addition to her accomplishments, Holly enjoys her involvement in extracurricular activities such as being 4-H Community Club Officer, Poultry Club Teen Leader, Dog Project Group (obedience and agility), State Dog Show, Horse Bowl Team Captain and Hippology, Outdoor Meat Cookery, Life Skills Quiz Team and Judging Team Captain, Clover Bowl Team Captain, History Bowl, 4-H Archery, BB, Air Rifle and Shotgun weekly Spring/Fall Classes, State 4-H Target SMART Shooting Sports Camp, Scholastic Clay Target Program Trap Team, and 4-H Shooting Sports just to name a small fraction of her extensive list of activities.
Holly has always dreamed of visiting the Nation's Capitol before graduating and seeing Arlington Cemetery. Her cousin Brad was killed in Iraq in August of 2005 fighting for our country, protecting our rights and Christian beliefs. His funeral impacted her and left an imprint on her heart that she can't explain. As a result of his sacrifice, she has developed a deep compassion for honoring our veterans and remembering those who lost their lives for our country. With such heartfelt gratitude, her Girl Scout Gold Award project is centered on serving our veterans.
Not only is she an enormous supporter of the Second Amendment but Holly loves History. As a young child, Holly fell in love with the State Capitol in Topeka Kansas visiting so often she and her family were recognized by the guards as regulars and even received an unplanned personal tour of the governor's mansion. Moving to Nashville, no one was surprised that she wanted to visit the State Capital of Tennessee. She's been often with school groups, educational conferences and with the Tennessee 4-H Congress and yes, she has even visited the governor’s home. Holly says, “It would be an honor to represent the state of Tennessee and youths across America, meeting with members of Congress and discussing our Second Amendment. I would stand tall in knowing as I shake their hands, I am extending to them not just my hand, but a hand that represents the hands of all our young people who believe in the same rights as our forefathers.” The honor is having Holly Nicole Stewart represent the State of Tennessee and being the future and voice of our country willing to fight for our Second Amendment rights.
Holly Stewart, Courtney Collyer & Shanice Bonner at 2007 Tennessee FRNA Event
The National Rifle Association launched YES in an effort to encourage America's youth to become active and knowledgeable citizens. Funding for YES comes from local donations and funds raised at Friends of NRA events and through grants provided by The NRA Foundation. Holly has also volunteered and been a part of her local Tennessee Friends of NRA event in the Nashville area and what an awesome opportunity for her to see how your donations and generosity will help to develop into an experience of a lifetime for youths all across our nation.