RHS sending 19 archers to national tournament

Educators are looking for ways to improve student motivation, attention, behavior, attendance, and focus. Teachers strive to achieve state and national educational standards regarding development of micro and macro motor ability and listening and observation skills. They hope to engage each student in the educational process and develop relationships to promote graduation instead of dropping-out.

Wildlife Conservation agencies are concerned too many young people are foregoing learning outdoor skills that will inspire them to spend more time with wild things in wild places. Natural resource professionals are convinced learning target-shooting skills will result in character and self-reliance development that will serve the future of wildlife conservation well.

The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®) was developed to serve these specific educational and conservation purposes. NASP® was co-created by the Kentucky Departments of Fish & Wildlife Resources, the Department of Education, and Mathews Archery in the late summer and fall of 2001. The program was launched in 21 Kentucky middle schools on March 3, 2002.

Originally called the “Kentucky Archery in the Schools Program,” the effort’s goal was to enroll 120 schools and teach target archery skills to 24,000 students each year. Kentucky gave itself three years to achieve this goal. Within the program’s first year the 120-school goal was achieved and because of neighbor-state interest, “National” replaced “Kentucky” in the program’s name.

NASP® also expanded its participation standards to include students in 4th-12th grade. Shortly afterwards NASP® was granted 501c(3) non-profit educational foundation status. NASP® is overseen by an all-volunteer board of directors. Every state, province, and country enrolled in NASP® has a “Coordinator” in charge of leading the program in their jurisdiction.

The current list of Russellville students that will be attending the NASP National tournament in Louisville this Thursday is as follows: Zach Baskerville, Bryce Bollenbecker, Sharaya Booze, Nariah Brown, Rainbow Browning, Destiny Daniels, Tristan Erby, Bryant Garcia, Emma-Grace Gwynette, Taylor Gwynette, Blaine Holley, Chelsea Kerr, Will Landaverde, Ariana Nickell, Jackson Rust, Abby Saunders, Colin Siletchnik, Donovan Taylor, Jordan Warren, Jennifer Wilkerson, and Tyroyce Young.

Coach Steven Brown, an RJSHS mathematics teacher, is RJSHS Assistant Archery Coach alongside Head Coach Jeramy Rust.

These students will try to qualify for the NASP World Tournament.