Oh Yeah ... It's Time to Get Ready for OAYA!

Now is the time to start working on getting ready to submit for the Outstanding Achievement Youth Award! The NRA’s Outstanding Achievement Youth Awards (OAYA) encourages and recognizes those junior shooting sports participants who take an active part in their community and shooting sports through individual contributions, educational pursuits and accomplishments.

The award is designed to promote a greater appreciation of the programs the NRA has to offer and to increase awareness of the shooting sports activities in which youth can participate. There are three winners each year, and those winners receive a $5,000 award for first place, a $3,000 award for second place and a $2,000 award for third place.

Youth are eligible through their 21^st birthday. The requirements are not that difficult to acquire. One must meet five of the core requirements which are:

• Complete one NRA Basic Firearm Training Couse
• Participate in the NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program by earning a rating in one discipline.
• Write an essay “What the Shooting Sports has Taught Me”
• Submit three Letters of Recommendation
• A copy of the candidate's school transcripts

In addition, there are elective requirements; the candidate must choose five from the list of 18 for submission. Here they are:

1. Earn an NRA Classification Card by competing in an NRA-sanctioned competitive shooting event.
2. Present the Eddie Eagle GunSafe^® Program to a group of elementary school-age children between pre-Kindergarten and fourth grade.
3. Attend and complete an additional NRA Basic Firearm Training Course.
4. Earn an additional rating in the NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program.
5. Compete in an NRA-sanctioned Sectional, Regional, or State Championship.
6. Attend or volunteer at an NRA Shooting Sports Camp.
7. Attend or volunteer at a Friends of NRA event.
8. Attend the NRA Annual Meeting.
9. Attend an NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge event.
10. Enter a submission for the NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest.
11. Be a current member of a local shooting club or team.
12. Participate in a summer camp shooting program.
13. Assist in a wildlife conservation, ECHO, or Hunters for the Hungry program.
14. Complete a state-sponsored hunter education course.
15. Participate in a shooting or hunting clinic.
16. Participate or serve as a volunteer at an NRA national shooting sports event.
17. Participate in a Boy Scout, Venturing, Law Enforcement Explorer, 4-H, FFA, DeMolay, American Legion, Jaycee, JROTC, or other recognized youth shooting program.
18. Visit the National Firearms Museum or another museum which features firearm displays.

For more information visit:  https://oaya.nra.org/ or email [email protected] .

The deadline for submission is May 1 of every year. Every youth who submits will receive a certificate!