Registration for the Academic Archer program concluded for the 2016/2017 school year on April 30th with 19,381 students enrolled into the program. Educators from 40 US states, three Canadian Provinces, and schools from the British Virgin Islands implemented the NASP® Academic Archer Program with their students.
For the 2016/17 school year, Easton Technical Products, a long time NASP® sponsor, became the title sponsor of the Academic Archer program. ETP recognized the value of academic emphasis for all students early on, and wanted to help NASP® promote the concept. Since then, growth has been substantial.
Mark Pezzoni, President of Easton Technical Products said, “The NASP® Academic Archer program is a great inspirational and motivational driver of academic and archery achievement. Perhaps Anna Howard said it best in a letter she wrote: “…I like the NASP® Archery Program because it helped me through a hard time when my best friend died from cancer. It has helped with my concentration on my school work, it also makes me try even harder to get good grades, so I can continue to shoot and qualified for Academic Archer…”
Mark continued, “I feel that our partnership with NASP® is one of the clearest examples where we can illustrate the wisdom of investing in our youth. Hearing from students like Anna Howard, and seeing the students and families participating in the program at the National Tournament and beyond, simply makes me feel honored to be a sponsor and promoter of what is good for kids.”
Following the close of registration for Academic Archer, NASP® conducted a random computer drawing from among all registered students and selected ten student names. Each of these young people won a new Genesis Bow of their choice and custom Easton AA Arrows! NASP® would like to thank a generous sponsor who purchased the bows, and Easton Archery for donating the arrows.
2017 Winners include:
- HALLIE CRANE – ST. MARY’S NORTH VERNON, IN
- GARRETT DELONG – RAVENSWOOD MIDDLE, WV
- ZECHARIAH LILLY – ELON ELEMENTARY, VA
- ALYSSA LAVIANA – NORTH MURRAY HIGH SCHOOL, GA
- CAMILLA WEAVER – HICKORY COUNTY R-1/SKYLINE, MO
- SHYLA PONCE – RICO BUSBEE CREATIVE ARTS ACADEMY, SC
- JOB HINKLE – TRI-VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL, OH
- SIERRA LIEF – ANAMOSA MIDDLE SCHOOL, IA
- TRINA HURTADO – BATON ELEMEMENTARY, NC
- JAKE ANGLIN – WACO ELEMENTARY, KY
Academic Archer will be opened in early September for the 2017/2018 school year. NASP® is hoping to see the number top, 50,000 students, soon. It is our intention to increasingly send the strongest message possible, about how teaching archery as part of the school curriculum, is important to the mission of educators. As you can see, the ten lucky Academic Archers were very excited to receive their new equipment. Perhaps a qualifying student from your local school will be among the winners next year!