All,
First and foremost, I want to personally thank you for your interest in and support of the National Archery in the School’s Alumni Association. NASP® is a wonderful program, and reaches millions of children nationwide, providing them an opportunity to participate in a fun, inclusive, and safe organized sport. Throughout the years, over eighteen million people have participated in NASP®. That being said, after graduation, there was little they could do to stay connected with the program, other than to offer to coach or volunteer. As many of us know, it takes dedication, sacrifice, and time to be involved with a local NASP® school group, something that many of us cannot afford to give.
In June of 2018, the NASP® Alumni Association was formed. This association serves as a network to reconnect all of those who have participated in NASP® in one way or another. The Alumni Association’s primary focus is to provide those of us who don’t have the time or means to assist with a school program, a way to be involved and to give back. In March 2019, the association held its first annual Alumni Championship flight during the Kentucky NASP® State Tournament. Two hundred and forty-five participants joined forces to support a program they loved and competed for the championship along with the grand prize of a NASP® starter kit that they could donate to a school of their choosing. The Bushwookies took first place.
The dates have been set for the 2020 Alumni Championship, and registration will be opened for both team and individual competitions by January 1st, 2020. In anticipation of the magnitude of this event, we have reserved two hundred lanes for Friday night of the Kentucky State Tournament. Teams are being assembled across the state, comprised of NASP® Alumni, Coaches, Parents, and Friends of NASP®. Dust off your bows, get some practice in, and come out to step up to the shooting line one more time!
Teams are required to have a minimum of six members. Teams must have a minimum of at least two NASP® Alumni. Anyone age sixteen or older can register, and all are welcome to compete in the individual competition. As an induction into the Alumni Association, current NASP® seniors may participate in the individual competition and compete for the title of NASP® Senior Champion. Already have a team in mind? Register for $25 per participant here: https://arrowscores.com/default.aspx. Each participant will receive a commemorative gift with registration! Interested but don’t have a team or want to organize and lead one? Reach out to your local Regional Coordinator to be connected with alumni in your area! Information on how to get into contact with Regional Coordinators can be found here: https://fw.ky.gov/Education/Documents/naspregioncontacts.pdf.
A second goal of the NASP® Alumni Association is to provide educational opportunities to its members who want to further their skills and participate in outdoor recreation. Therefore, the NASP® Alumni Association will be partnering with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources in the state-wide Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation Initiative. The primary focus of this initiative is to increase participation in outdoor recreation. Through this partnership, we will be able to begin hosting unique Alumni Association events focused on this goal. Ever wanted to learn how to bow fish or hunt with a crossbow? Stay tuned.
I look forward to meeting each one of you. Please feel free to contact me at any time at chace.wallen@naspschools.org.
Stay on target,
Chace Wallen
NASP® Alumni Association Director