The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is pleased to announce Tom Davis will join the SSSF team as its new Marketing and Communications Manager.
Tom Davis joins the SSSF team as Manager of Communications and Marketing
“We saw the need to bring our marketing efforts in-house going into 2020,” said SSSF President, Ben Berka. “We intend to bring a more authentic and consistent line of communication to our current members, industry partners, and prospective members with the addition of Tom Davis. Tom has previous marketing experience in the firearms industry at SilencerCo and also has a unique perspective as an alumnus of the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP). We believe his professional expertise and passion to give back to our programs will have a significant positive impact at the SSSF.”
Tom will be responsible for developing and perfecting a new marketing strategy for the foundation. His marketing plan understands the need to communicate to several different audiences using unique and compelling messages about the program and its participants. By researching participant demographics and applying targeted marketing techniques, Tom’s marketing strategy will grow program membership and improve communication to current members and stakeholders.
“I feel incredibly fortunate and fired up to give back to the SSSF," stated Davis. "I have traveled to places and met people I never would have otherwise thanks to shooting sports. I truly believe the stories from the SSSF programs sell themselves. I’m excited to communicate these stories and information to our current audiences and prospective members.”
Davis will assume his new role with the SSSF on January 2nd.
Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation will again join #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide.
Occurring this year on December 3rd, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday to kick-off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.
#GivingTuesday is also a great opportunity to drive donations for your SCTP or SASP team through our Vision 2020 campaign! Simple posts to your social media sites and/or e-mails to team members, parents, friends and business associates can make a difference! All you have to do is share your team ID and the link to donate!
This year we are offering a special incentive for teams on #GivingTuesday! We will be awarding this Henry Big Boy Rifle and Ruger Black Hawk revolver to the team with the most unique donors making online donations on December 3rd.
Here are the requirements:
SCTP/SASP teams must be registered for the Vision 2020 campaign. Team registration information and materials can be found at the bottom of our official campaign page.
Teams must raise a minimum of $500 through online donations on December 3rd to be eligible for the Henry / Ruger combo.
Winning team will be the team with the highest count of individual donors making a donation of $10 or more on December 3, 2019. In case of a tie, the team with the largest individual donation amount will win.
Donors must use your SSSF team id at the time of the donation. Contact us if you don't know your SSSF team ID
Online donations must be made on December 3rd, 2019 in order to count towards this Combo Gun competition.
Total campaign donations, including all participating teams, must exceed $10,000 on December 3rd for the Henry / Ruger combo to be awarded. Note, donations on #GivingTuesday in 2018 exceeded $10,000.
The SCTP would like to announce the addition of some of its
newest State Advisors for the 2019/2020 competition season.
Angie Everson of
Midland, Sylvia McCart from
Nicholson and Steve Lane of Madison
have all agreed to help in assisting teams, athletes and coaches in the state
of Georgia. Angie brings several
years of experience and dedication to the SCTP and currently coaches the Harris
County Shotgun Team. Sylvia is currently an assistant coach with the Georgia
Claybusters and Steve has been the Head Coach of the Lake Oconee Shotgun Team
for some time! The growing number of teams and athletes in Georgia sure welcome
their guidance and help with state and local events and for being the boots on
the ground. We appreciate them stepping up and thank them for their dedication
to the SCTP!
Michael Jacks of
Grenada will be assisting new teams, athletes and coaches in the state of Mississippi! Mississippi, one of the
newest states to get involved with the SCTP, is seeing some significant
interest and growth in the youth shooting sports. Home to the Winchester
supported shooting facility, The McIvor Shooting Center, SCTP is working on a
plan for a spring 2020 Regional shoot to be held there. Michael is involved
with the Cypress Creek Shotgun Sports Team and looks forward to working with
new teams and coaches joining the SCTP!
Andy Croley of
Williamsburg has agreed to assist teams, athletes and coaches in the state of Kentucky. We have started to see more
interest and excitement in Kentucky and look forward to the help there! Andy
heads up the Whitley County Clay Crushers and is excited to work with more
teams and coaches in an effort to grow youth shooting in the state of Kentucky!
Kevin Kozel of
Carmichaels Pennsylvania, will be
assisting fellow State Advisors in PA in helping build new teams, adding
athletes and overall growing of the SCTP! PA has seen regular steady growth
over the last few years and continues to garner more teams and athletes. Kevin
is involved with his local team, The Hunting Hills Hawkeyes where he has been
an assistant coach there for the last few years.
Dale Cason of
Yukon will be heading up efforts in the state of Oklahoma. Dale enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 children
and is an outdoor enthusiast. He spends time out hunting and shooting as well
as coaching his team the F5 Clay Crushers. We look forward to Dale’s help in
Oklahoma and growing the SCTP program there!
State Advisors are appointed positions by the SCTP National
Organization and renewed yearly. If you are interested in assisting the SCTP
with growing youth clay target shooting in your state, please reach out to your
Director of Development (western US) Jeff Morrison jmorrison@sssfonline.com or (Eastern
US) Chet Tuinstra ctuinstra@sssfonline.com.
We would be happy to have you!
Hillsdale, MI - Members of the 2019 SCTP National Team (NT) met in Hillsdale, Michigan over the Columbus Day weekend for their first training camp together. The camp was a short two days but that may have been a blessing as weekend temperatures failed to reach 50 degrees in the face of steady 10-15 mph winds. The 2019 NT athletes attending this camp were: Preston Bailey, Josh Corbin, Madeline Corbin, Kyle Fleck, Ella McLerran, Alexa Paxson, and Jordan Sapp. Also attending were Quinn Schuppner, Hamilton Spieth, and 2018 NT alumni Matthew Wells.
Back row, left to right: Quinn Schuppner, Hamilton Spieth, Jordan Sapp, Josh Corbin, Alexa Paxson, Ella McLerran. Front row, left to right: Madeline Corbin, Preston Bailey, Kyle Fleck, Matthew Wells.
Utilizing some indoor time, Coach Terri DeWitt introduced
the athletes to stretching and circuit training exercises designed to
strengthen core muscles and improve stability and SSG Dustan Taylor, member of
the US Army Marksmanship Unit Skeet Team, introduced the skeet athletes to new
drills and training techniques. Coach Taylor noted that while the high winds
made training difficult, it helped build confidence in the end. “I believe the
camp was a complete success,” he stated. Skeet athlete Preston Bailey agreed.
“I liked working with Coach Dustan and being able to train with the other team
members. Most of the time I train by myself, so this was a productive weekend
for me,” Bailey said.
“I’d like to thank the staff at the John Halter Shooting Sports Education Center here at Hillsdale College for their generous hospitality in hosting our training camp. Bart, Jim, and Judy made sure we had everything we needed. This is a first-class facility that has some exciting things in store for it,” stated Coach DeWitt.
The SCTP NT will get together again December 28-30 in
Tucson, AZ. They will have an opportunity to train on the same fields that will
be used to select the 2020 US Olympic Shooting Team at Olympic Trials Part 2
which starts February 25, 2020.
The SCTP National Team is selected from and based on the top
3 finishes for male and female athletes at the SCTP International National
Championships (in International Skeet and Bunker Trap) held each year at the
end of July. The national team seats from Sept. 1st through August
31st each year and athletes are invited to attend various camps and
competitions throughout the year. These athletes receive Winchester ammunition,
a Castellani national team vest sponsored by Ultimate Shooting accessories ,
entry fees and many other support materials entitled to membership on the team!
Columbia, MO – The MidwayUSA Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from shooting teams in their Team Endowment Program. Any youth shooting team with a balance in their MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment that did not apply in June 2019 is eligible to apply for a cash grant. Applicants must complete the MidwayUSA Foundation grant application, found at midwayusafoundation.org/teamgrants and submit it by December 15th.
Teams are eligible to apply for a cash grant, every year. Youth shooting teams can receive 5% of their endowment balance to use for shooting team expenses, such as ammunition, travel, entry fees, uniforms, targets, and more. The December 2019 cycle has over 2,250 teams eligible, and a potential payout of about $4.3 million.
In their last grant cycle, the MidwayUSA Foundation paid $1.7 million in grants to 521 youth shooting teams. Each year the number of grant applications submitted has increased. Ideally, every shooting team with an endowment will receive a grant each year. If you need assistance or have questions about eligibility, you can email grants@midwayusafoundation.org.
The MidwayUSA Foundation is a public 501(c)(3) charity, founded by Larry and Brenda Potterfield, working to sustain the shooting sports industry by providing permanent, long term endowment funding to over 2,700 youth shooting teams.
For more information about the MidwayUSA Foundation, Inc. and its Team Endowment Program, please visit midwayusafoundation.org or call 1-877-375-4570.
The Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic action Shooting Program (SASP) are ready and welcoming youth shooting sports teams from around the country for yet another successful shooting competition season!
As the leader in youth shooting sports, these programs go above and beyond in providing safe and fun competitive programs. Programs that instill confidence and respect while getting youth “off the couches” and participating in these highly energetic activities! Youth from grades 5 through College are welcome as well as any other organized youth programs like Boy/Girl Scouts, 4H, AIM, FFA, US Naval Sea Cadets, USAYESS and more. The SCTP and SASP do not discriminate and welcome everyone!
These programs were started by Industry and ran under the auspice of the NSSF back in 2001. As true today, Industry stands behind them 100% with both financial and product support making them the most supported youth shooting organization in the world!
Keeping in line with our standard of being #1, the SSSF liability insurance policy now provides a general aggregate limit of $10 million. The SSSF Commercial General Liability Insurance policy is the most comprehensive coverage available in the industry for youth shooting sports athletes, volunteer coaches, advisors, and other volunteers who have joined the SCTP and SASP. The new aggregate limit is twice that of previous policies.
“While the SCTP boasts an impeccable safety record, we feel it is in our best interest to make sure all of our athletes and coaches are properly insured” stated Tom Wondrash, SCTP National Director. “We take protecting our members very seriously and have shown it by increasing the limits of the SSSF policy to a new level of protection! Industry and teams alike can rest assured we are taking every step to keep our members safe and covered!”
The SCTP is involved with all the clay target sports including Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays, Double Trap, Handicap Trap, Skeet Doubles, International Skeet and Bunker Trap and is the official youth program to USA Shooting!
Being a member of the SCTP or SASP is only $25 for athletes and $35 for coaches and volunteers. Sportsman’s Insurance Agency (SIAI) provides the unprecedented commercial general liability coverage for SSSF, which is underwritten by T.H.E. Insurance Company, an AM Best A- rated company. Sportsman’s also provides endorsed insurance programs for organizations such as the NSSA-NSCA, ATA, SCI and more.
SSSF is also pleased to offer the nation’s finest gun insurance to members of SCTP/SASP through Sportsman’s Insurance Agency Inc.
“We are excited to provide the best insurance found in youth programs.” Stated Rick Leach SASP National Director. We continue to look for ways give our coaches and athletes great value with their membership.
SASP is involved with all aspects of Pistol and Rifle competition for youth around the country. Action shooting sports continue to grow in the country. Which became even more evident this year when the SASP National Championships became the world’s largest action shooting match held in history.
The youth shooting sports program season started September 1st and the season runs through August 31st.
If you are looking to get your son/daughter involved or are looking to start a new team at your gun club, please visit our SCTP or SASP program pages.
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is seeking a highly motivated individual to assume the role of Information Technology Project Manager. The successful candidate will have a background in product management and be responsible all aspects of customer facing software application development, testing, training, implementation and support for the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation.
The successful candidate will be responsible for all aspects of customer facing information technology (IT) project management for the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program. Successful candidate will play a key role in the organizations ability to recruit and retain members and supporters.
Primary Responsibilities Include:
Managing all aspects of customer facing applications and software life cycle for the SSSF and its programs including development, implementation, support and retirement
Working with diverse groups including SSSF/SCTP/SASP management, customers, partners, contractors and other stakeholders to accurately assess current and future information technology needs required to increase membership, event participation and overall support of the SSSF and its programs
Prioritizing information technology needs and developing detailed IT project proposals and product road maps for program and foundation management
Creating timelines, developing budgets and identifying resources required for successful project completion of both short and long-term IT projects
Providing point solutions and integrations as needed to satisfy business needs
Documenting projects and communicating regular progress with all stakeholders
Creating comprehensive testing and implementation plans
Working with IT support staff to develop both internal and customer training materials
Planning and executing both internal and end-user training
Interacting with management, staff, membership, contractors and others to execute job duties
Constantly monitoring and evaluating technology trends and developments
After fifteen hot, dusty days in Kerrville, TX, USA Shooting has
completed the first half of its process to select the 2020 Olympic Shooting
Team. For most of the SCTP National Team (NT) trap and skeet athletes who took part
in the competition at the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center, this was their
first experience with an Olympic team selection.
2019 SCTP National Team Skeet athletes with Olympians Kim Rhode and Frank Thompson.
“It’s really hard to recreate the kind of pressure an athlete
will feel in a match like this,” explained Head Coach Terri Dewitt. “It just
feels different. More intense. Which makes the experience of competing here
invaluable. I’m incredibly proud of these athletes and their performances.”
SCTP National Team Trap athlete Peter Meola.
Participating in the U.S. Olympic Shooting Trials Part 1 were
current SCTP NT athletes Preston Bailey, Camron Burks, Sydney Krieger, Erin
Lokke, Ella McLerran, Peter Meola, Jordan Sapp, and Kevin Whitehead. SCTP NT
“alumni” were here as well: Heather Argue, Maddy Bernau, Meredith Bernau, Jay
Bible, Heather Broski, Jack Brosseau, Emilio Carvalho, Monica Dale, Chris
Freeman, AJ Nomina, Mark Shields, Madeline Taylor, and Matthew Wells.
SCTP National Team Skeet athlete Jordan Sapp breaks his first 25-straight in competition.
Significant results by SCTP NT athletes:
Trap Heather Broski (2017 NT) – Junior Women, Gold Meredith Bernau (2018 NT) – Junior Women, 6th Emilio Carvalho (2018 NT) – Junior Men, 6th; High J2 Maddy Bernau (2017 NT) – Open Women, 5th; High Collegiate
Skeet AJ Nomina (2017 NT) – Junior Men, Bronze Gracin Anderson (2018 NT) – High Collegiate
USA Shooting will complete its Olympic Team selection with Olympic Trials Part 2 beginning at the end of February
2020 in Tucson, AZ.
About the SCTP NATIONAL TEAM The SCTP National Team is made up of 15 athletes chosen annually from the SCTP International Championships. Twelve athletes, 3 girls and 3 boys from Bunker Trap and 3 girls and 3 boys from International Skeet plus 3 additional athletes chosen by the Head Coach and National Director make up the 15 SCTP National Team members.
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is seeking a highly motivated individual to assume the role of Marketing and Communications Manager. The successful candidate will be responsible for content creation and day to day management of all foundation and program related communications.
The successful candidate will be responsible for all aspects of marketing and communications for the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program. The Marketing and Communications Manager will be responsible for key messaging to current members/supporters as well as external audiences using a variety of methods and tools. Successful candidate will play a key role in the organizations ability to recruit and retain members and supporters.
Primary Responsibilities Include:
Working with foundation and program management to develop and implement marketing and communication strategies and policies
Creation and management of annual communications calendar based on key events
Interacting with management, staff, membership, contractors and others to execute job duties
Managing and growing mailing lists related to members, supporters, media and prospects
Writing, editing and development of content for various foundation and program media platforms including blogs, press releases, email blasts, social media posts, streams, stories, magazines, etc.
Create and coordinate all internal, direct email communications with staff, supporters, state advisors, coaches, athletes and parents based on program needs
Manage all aspects of a regular e-newsletter for members, supporters and prospects
Grow following, reach and exposure of foundation and program social media sites
Create and manage monitors and alerts for external media in order to promote news generated by local member teams and to leverage member generated content
Creation of print and digital ads, flyers, media guides, informational packets and other marketing assets required for program and foundation needs
Utilize advertising systems such as AdWords to recruit new members and supporters
Manage all aspects of the SSSF All Scholastic Team and leverage team membership for program marketing efforts
Management of all content on foundation and program websites
Management of image and video libraries required for foundation and program needs
Manage all aspects of the annual National Championships program including creative, ad aggregation, content, printing and distribution
Manage all aspects of on-site event communications for the annual National Championships including promotion of special events, daily schedules, text messaging, etc.
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to providing shooting-sports education and opportunities to school-age youths around the United States to encourage young athlete personal growth and development. Tax-ID number 20-8484121.
