Being Recruited For College
For many college bound competitive shooters, finding a school with a collegiate shooting sports program can be a challenge, let alone one offering scholarships. Finding lists of the top football programs, top engineering schools or which small liberal arts college has the most graduates in public service is easy. Hunting down a list of schools that are actively recruiting into their shooting programs is a bit tougher. However, for the last five years the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation has been working to bridge the gap between its 12,000 plus high school shooters and collegiate programs around the country by including a college recruiting component at the National Team Championships. At this year's Nationals in Sparta, Illinois, there are easily a dozen colleges and universities on hand talking to kids in the language they understand – the language of guns. "With so many high school athletes coming through the ranks of the SCTP and SPP, it's only natural for them to seek out shooting sports opportunities at the collegiate level. Parents and athletes meet face-to-face with recruiters here at Nationals, helping them find a school that best fits their educational needs while allowing them to continue their shooting career," said Ben Berka, executive direct of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation. In attendance at this year's collegiate recruitment day are Arizona State University, Hillsdale College, University of the Ozarks, Midland University, Missouri S&T University, Hawkeye Community College, Fort Hays State University, Concordia University, Jacksonville University, University of Iowa, Bethel University and Lindenwood. If you would like more information on these and other schools with collegiate shooting programs, please contact SSSF.