Former Y.E.S. attendee is a Rhodes Scholar

Fairfax, Virginia - Joseph Riley, Tennessee native and alumnus of NRA's 2008 Youth Education Summit, has been named now a 2013 Rhodes Scholar.

A fourth-year student at the University of Virginia, Riley is majoring in Mandarin Chinese and the politics honors program at UVA's College of Arts & Sciences.

During his week-long trip to Washington, D.C. as a part of Y.E.S., Riley's exceptional debate and speech skills earned him a $2,500 scholarship from the NRA Foundation and he has gone on to be a shining example of the character present in those that attend the summit.

"I still remember my time at the Youth Education Summit, and I think it certainly was one of the more formative experiences that I have had," Riley said.

Now he has the chance for another formative experience, one as a Rhodes Scholar.

The prestigious Rhodes Scholarships fully funds two to three years of study at Oxford University in England. There, Riley plans to gain a masters and doctorate in international relations before pursuing a career in the United States Army.

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Working towards NRA scholarship by taking Eddie Eagle to Elementary Schools in North Carolina

Every summer, the National Rifle Association gathers students from across the nation for a summit. A week-long educational experience where almost fifty high school sophomores and juniors tour monuments, attend lectures and listen to experts on the what it means to be an active and valuable citizen of the United States.

Part of that process includes an opportunity to help pay for college – but only for those who are willing to go that extra mile. Its known as the Grand Scholarship and it all depends on what they bring back to their community.

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Comes to NRA Headquarters for Youth Education Summit before shooting Smallbore at Camp Perry

Emporia, Kansas - Two events serve as highlights every summer for those of us here at the National Rifle Association: the Youth Education Summit and the National Rifle & Pistol Championships in Camp Perry, Ohio. Bookmarking the beginning of the season with YES and the end with Camp Perry, it's seldom that the two events come together. Unless you run into someone like Megan Hilbish.

Hailing from Emporia, Kansas, Megan has been around firearms for as long as she can remember. With an enthusiastic hunter as a father, it's no wonder she started in the shooting sports early.

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Learn all about the NRA's week-long educational experience for high school students in Washington D.C.

Fairfax, Virginia - The cover story for this month's NRA InSights is a great recap of the Youth Education Summit, NRA's week-long trip to Washington D.C. for high school sophomores and juniors.

At the summit, students find themselves traveling all over the Washington D.C. area with people who will eventually become good friends. Together they visit locations like The Capitol, Marine Corps Base Quantico, the National Archives and many memorials, monuments and other great places.

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Breaking down Y.E.S. participation throughout the United States

Fairfax, Virginia - In 1996 the NRA started its once-in-a-lifetime summer trip for high school students - the Youth Education Summit. Since then the program has graduated over 675 participants from all over the country. And we mean all over.

Take a look at the map above to see the breakdown of which states have produced the most Y.E.S. students. Unfortunately we've yet to see representatives from Rhode Island and the District of Columbia, but hey, there's always next year.

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Get started on your application for one of the summer's greatest trips, courtesy of the NRA

Fairfax, Virginia - This year's Youth Education Summit looked like they had a lot of fun, didn't they? For all you high school Sophomores and Juniors out there, YOU could be a part of next year's week-long trip to Washington, D.C.

The NRA is currently accepting applications for the 2013 National Youth Education Summit - a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

More on what to expect at the Youth Education Summit ...

Smith & Wesson shooter shares her time at the National Y.E.S.

California's Molly Smith joins the group of this year's Youth Education Summit attendees who wanted to share how much they enjoyed their time learning about their Second Amendment rights

The National Rifle Association has as one of it foremost goals the protection of firearm-related rights.

In this respect, it is the leader when it comes to programs related to gun safety, wildlife conservation, women’s and junior programs, philanthropy and education (not just gun related either). Programs such as Eddie Eagle (aimed for youngsters) and women’s firearm clinics are well known.

Another program, a remarkable one that I was thrilled to attend, is the Youth Education Summit ( Y.E.S.). Designed to educate the youth of today to be better prepared for tomorrow on topics such as the workings of government, legislature and the Second Amendment, as well as history, Y.E.S. is an all-expense paid, week-long experience in Washington, D.C., for 46 high school sophomores and juniors.

I will be forever grateful to the NRA, the Friends of National Rifle Association (FNRA) and those who wrote letters on my behalf so that I could attend.

Learn more about Molly Smith's once-in-a-lifetime Y.E.S. experience ...

Kaytlyn Leonard, the 2012 National Y.E.S. attendee from North Carolina and recipient of a $1,000 college scholarship, joined her fellow students in writing thank you letters to their NRA Field Representatives. Here is Kaytlyn's letter to Western North Carolina's Doug Merrill detailing her time in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Merrill,

Last September, I was sitting in the lounge at my school in between classes, talking with a few friends. It started off as a normal day, but quickly changed. At about 9am I arrived at my calculus class and noticed that class was cancelled. So, off to the lounge I went to spend my time until the next class started. Since I was not in a class, I turned my phone on...you never know just who may call you! Thankfully, the ringer was up and when my phone rang I promptly answered. "Hello?" I said uneasily to the number I did not recognize. All of a sudden a voice comes over the phone asking me where I was... "Well, school," I replied hesitantly. To my disbelief, I was suppose to be in Raleigh at the North Carolina NRA Youth Education Summit. Hurriedly, I rushed home, packed my clothes for the weekend and headed to YES, not knowing that the weekend would end up causing a string of events that would change my life.

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Idaho's Dirk Seymour recalls his time in the nation's capital

When Idaho's attendee of the Youth Education Summit got home after his seven-day experience in Washington, D.C., he wrote Friends of NRA to thank them for the once-in-a-lifetime trip. Read on to learn about what the Youth Education Summit was like from a student's point of view.

This past year, I was fortunate enough to spend the best week of my life with the NRA Youth Education Summit (YES) in Washington D.C. I was chosen as one of 45 students (Sophomores and Juniors in high school) from around the country. My trip was all expenses paid, thanks to Friends of NRA. The primary purpose of the trip is to have young people learn more about the government and become more active in civic affairs. I will attempt to give a brief description of each day. However, more than anything, I want to describe how this trip changed my life.

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