The future of the shooting sports community is bright, and the 2025 Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) alumni are proving exactly why.
This year, the NRA received an impressive group of Grand Scholarship applications from 2025 Y.E.S. alumni across the country. These students are taking the leadership skills, knowledge, and inspiration they gained at the summit and bringing them back to their hometowns in meaningful ways.
The Grand Scholarship project is designed to encourage alumni to stay engaged after the summit ends. Participants are challenged to promote NRA programs within their communities, inspire others to get involved, and continue advancing the mission of the NRA. Upon completing their projects, students become eligible for scholarship opportunities that help support their future educational goals.
Their stories reflect the heart of the Y.E.S. program: developing young leaders who are prepared to make a positive impact in their communities. Through public speaking, leadership development, and involvement in NRA programs, alumni are helping shape the next generation of advocates for the shooting sports and Second Amendment community.
“One of the most rewarding parts of the Youth Education Summit is seeing students return home and immediately begin putting what they learned into action,” said Ashley Re, Director of the NRA Youth Education Summit. “Y.E.S. alumni continue to promote the mission and values of the NRA in their schools, communities, and future careers by standing up for constitutional freedoms, encouraging civic engagement, and becoming strong leaders among their peers. We could not be more proud of the impact these young men and women are making as they carry forward the principles they strengthened during their week at Y.E.S.”
Please join us in congratulating our 2026 Y.E.S. Grand Scholarship Winners:
$7,500 – Kaitlyn Ware – Baxter, Iowa
$7,500 – Sam Poulin - Scarborough, Maine
Here’s a closer look at the projects and community impact that earned Kaitlyn and Sam this year’s top scholarship honors.
Meet Kaitlyn from Iowa. After attending Y.E.S., Kaitlyn became deeply involved in Second Amendment advocacy and community outreach throughout her state. She shared her Y.E.S. experience as a guest speaker on several podcast episodes, helped recruit new NRA members, and expanded her leadership efforts by assisting with state legislative initiatives and grassroots advocacy.
“Attending the NRA Youth Education Summit in July 2025 transformed my understanding of the Second Amendment and ignited a fire to share its principles with my community. It equipped me with knowledge and confidence I now pay forward daily. This year of determined, grassroots advocacy has not only deepened my commitment to the Second Amendment but has also built a stronger, more active community of young shooters and advocates in Iowa.”
Meet Sam from Maine. Since attending Y.E.S., Sam has stayed actively engaged in sharing his experience and supporting firearm education in his community. He presented at a Maine Friends of NRA event, spoke at the Maine Sportsman’s Show, and was featured on The Ray Richardson Show. He also led an NRA Basic Rifle Course and an NRA Basic Pistol Course, helping teach safe and responsible firearm handling to others.
“I attended the NRA Youth Education Summit last summer and enjoyed every minute of it! I won the top scholarship and had an amazing time. I'm now looking to give back to the NRA in any way I can.”
While Kaitlyn and Sam were selected as this year’s Grand Scholarship winners, every student who submitted a project demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and passion for the future of the shooting sports community. Here’s a look at how other Y.E.S. alumni are making an impact in their hometowns.
Meet Aydri from Indiana. After returning home from Washington, D.C., Aydri wasted no time putting her experience into action. She shared what she learned at two Indiana Friends of NRA events, spoke with her clay target shooting team, and even brought the conversation into her school community.
“Looking back on all of these experiences, I am honestly very grateful for the opportunity I had through the YES program. It was not just a week in Washington, D.C., but an experience that challenged me to grow in confidence, communication, and leadership. One of the biggest things I took away from the program was how important it is to listen to others and understand different perspectives.”
Meet Briley from Texas. After returning home from Y.E.S., Briley shared his experience with his 4-H shooting team and at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo AIM for Education Event. He also became more involved in educating others on the importance of firearm safety and proper firearm maintenance.
“Y.E.S. was easily the singular best week of my life and I am grateful for having been selected to attend. I hope to volunteer with the program in years to come to help future generations of participants get as much out of it as I did.”
Meet Elie from Virginia. Inspired by his experience at Y.E.S., Elie returned home motivated to spark meaningful conversations and hands-on learning opportunities within his community. He presented a Gun Control Deliberation at his school, encouraging thoughtful discussion around firearm legislation, and hosted an Air Rifle and Pistol Shooting Session at a local range to help promote safe and responsible firearm education.
“I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn how much goes into NRA activities through the YES Program I participated in last summer. It gave me the opportunity to grow my understanding of firearm legislation and gun safety/education, as well as give me the skills to share that information with those around me.”
Meet Jacob from Rhode Island. Following his experience at Y.E.S., Jacob shared what he learned at a Rhode Island Friends of NRA event and continued using his voice to advocate for Second Amendment rights within his community. He also testified twice before the House Committee on Judiciary, demonstrating the confidence and leadership skills he developed through the program.
“If I could use one word to describe my week at Y.E.S., that word would be transformational. The lessons I learned, the friends I met, the connections I formed, and the experiences I had will truly have a lifelong impact on me. It is because of my experience and lessons learned at Y.E.S. that I am able to use my voice in my community and stand up for what is right.”
Meet Lincoln from Texas. Since attending Y.E.S., Lincoln has become heavily involved in promoting firearm safety, youth shooting sports, and NRA programs within his community. He has actively helped teach and promote the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program, wrote an article for NRA Club Connection, and successfully registered his local 4-H shooting club as an NRA Affiliated Program. Lincoln also played a key role in helping his club secure an NRA grant to further support its programs and opportunities for young shooters.
“Throughout my time in the country’s capital, I was in a sense, enlightened by the history and importance that was contained there. The Summit challenged me to think more seriously about crucial and important issues and helped me grow personally, academically, and politically.”
A huge thank you to all of these Y.E.S. participants for going above and beyond to share the impact of the NRA Youth Education Summit within their communities. Their dedication, leadership, and continued involvement demonstrate the lasting influence of the program and the bright future of the next generation of Second Amendment advocates.
In just two months, the NRA will welcome the 2026 Y.E.S. participants to Washington, D.C., for the next Youth Education Summit. We look forward to meeting them and continuing to inspire the next generation of youth leaders.
Funding for Y.E.S. and the Y.E.S. Grand Scholarship is provided by The NRA Foundation. Visit yes.nra.org for more information.
