Making a Difference

Hear Their Stories

Your support has helped and continues to help young athletes all around the nation. Team-based youth shooting sports provides a level playing field to all, with no such thing as being benched. Incredible stories of triumph, resolve, growth, and more arise from our programs. We’ve highlighted a few of those stories here to share with the rest of the world.

How Junior Athlete Joined Team Ruger

Abby Jackley’s father planned to start her off shooting trap…she had other plans.

From Broken to Champion: A Safe Haven In Shooting Sports

A terrible accident left an SCTP athlete with a spinal fusion, two rods, and eight screws. No more contact sports…ever.

Young athletes who may not find success or attention in traditional sports often find a home in clay target sports where your size, strength, or gender have no basis in becoming a champion. For that same reason, Texas athlete Dylan Little was able to find continued purpose in his participation in the SCTP:

Action Shooting Athlete Goes for Gold

With two gold medals under his belt from the 2023 USA Shooting Junior Olympic Pistol Championships, Blaine Simpson can’t wait to represent the United States on the international stage.

In Her Element

During the first day of  team practice for Emily Ferguson, she promptly told her coach she was left-eye dominant. When questioned her confidence in that answer before the drill had even begun, she playfully replied, “I only have one eye, trust me on this one.” 

Emily’s many accomplishments include the Rudy Cup, an award for the top shooter from Tennessee at Nationals, becoming the first female in history to claim the title.

MAKAYLA SCOTT BRINGS SCTP TO WEST VIRGINIA YOUTH

Makayla Scott’s incredible achievements on the field include team CZ-USA shotgun ambassador and Guinness World Record holder…. But her introduction as a Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) athlete came from a simple desire: to go to college.

A True Success Story: Jack’d up for Trap

Five years ago seems like so long ago for Jack Gerstmeier. At the age of 10 1/2, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Type 1 diabetes means that your pancreas no longer produces insulin that turn sugar and carbs into energy your body can use. It meant from now on he would require at least 4 shots a day to control his blood sugar for this chronic disease.

© Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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.