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Oct 30, 2026

NFAA Awards $7,000 in Travel Scholarships to Junior Archers

The NFAA, in partnership with the NFAA Foundation, is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Sectional Travel Scholarships, awarding a total of $7,000 to 14 junior archers across the country.

The scholarship program is designed to encourage youth participation in national-level NFAA competitions by helping offset the costs associated with traveling to championship events. A $500 travel scholarship is awarded to one male and one female archer from each of the eight NFAA sections. This year, there were no male applicants from the Southeast or New England sections, resulting in 14 scholarships being awarded.

To be eligible, applicants must be between the ages of 8 and 17 as of January 1, 2027, hold a valid NFAA membership, and participate in an NFAA State and/or Sectional Championship during 2026. Applicants were also asked to submit an essay outlining the NFAA or NFAA Foundation events they hope to attend in 2027, along with a list of their 2026 archery competitions. The essays offered a glimpse into the dedication, ambition, and excitement these young archers bring to the sport. For some, national tournaments provide an opportunity to challenge themselves against top competitors. For others, the greatest rewards come from the friendships and experiences made along the way.

Southwest recipient Alaska Harris is eager to continue pursuing her goals in archery, including attending the Rushmore Rumble in 2027 and competing against other young archers from across the country. At just 11 years old, Alaska has already experienced success on the national stage, taking first place in the Cub division at The Vegas Shoot with a score of 584 and 28Xs. One of her goals for 2027 is to achieve a perfect Vegas 300, something she has been working toward for the past two years. She hopes the travel scholarship will make it possible to attend the Rushmore Rumble, an event she has not yet experienced. "I would love to compete with girls my age and challenge myself," she shared. Looking ahead to the 2027 season, Alaska also has her sights set on earning the title of NFAA Shooter of the Year, giving her another exciting goal to work toward as she continues developing as an archer.

Stella Mende of the Midwest section sees national tournaments as an opportunity to develop as an archer while building lasting friendships within the sport. After attending her first Rushmore Rumble and Indoor National Championships in 2026, Stella is eager to return and experience even more NFAA events in the coming year. One of her favorite memories was competing in her first Pro-Am event at Indoor Nationals, where she enjoyed meeting her professional partner and other archers on her target. She also hopes to return to The Vegas Shoot, where she participated in the Grow the Line program and had the opportunity to shoot alongside former Vegas champions. Reflecting on what makes these events special, Stella shared, "I love these tournaments because they give me opportunities to explore different places around the country, learn from professional and Olympic archers, connect with other people my age who love archery just as much as I do, and make great memories."

Southern section recipient Asher Weittenhiller hopes to return to The Vegas Shoot in 2027 after an experience that changed his perspective on both archery and personal growth. Although his first national tournament in 2026 did not produce the scores he had hoped for, Asher considers it one of his most valuable competitive experiences. He explained, "While I shot my worst scores ever in a tournament, it was by far the most beneficial." The encouragement and guidance he received from fellow archers and coaches inspired him to bring that same support back to his community. Since returning home, Asher has established a nonprofit youth archery class called Archers In Mission (AIM), introducing children ages 9–13 to archery while emphasizing character development. "As others encouraged me, I came home wanting to do the same for others," he wrote. With plans to return to Vegas, pursue collegiate archery, and eventually open an archery pro shop, Asher hopes to continue growing as both an archer and a mentor to future generations.

Jaycie Reeves of the Northwest section has quickly developed a passion for archery since first picking up a bow through her local 4-H program three years ago. Now 12 years old, Jaycie is looking ahead to an ambitious 2027 tournament schedule that includes several NFAA national events. What initially seemed like a sport she might try for a year or two has become something she looks forward to every week. She recalled, "Every week I would count down the days and be ready two hours ahead of time to go help set up." Jaycie credits her family, grandparents, and coaches for helping her progress, especially her mom, who first introduced her to the sport. She is excited about the opportunity to travel to more tournaments, meet other young archers, and continue improving. Looking toward the future, Jaycie has set her sights on an ambitious goal: "I hope to one day make it to the Olympics."

Travel scholarships are intended to help cover tournament entry fees and travel-related expenses, including transportation, accommodations, and meals. Funds may be used toward participation in eligible 2027 NFAA and NFAA Foundation events, including the Rushmore Rumble, The Vegas Shoot, NFAA Indoor National Championships, NFAA 1-Arrow Marked 3D National Championship (NFAA portion), First Dakota Classic, NFAA Marked 3D National Championship (NFAA portion), NFAA Outdoor National Field Championships, and Outdoor National Target Championships.

The NFAA and NFAA Foundation congratulate all 14 scholarship recipients and look forward to seeing them on the tournament line in 2027. Through programs like the Sectional Travel Scholarships, the NFAA continues its commitment to making national-level competition more accessible and investing in the future of archery.

Section	Name	Age	Hometown
Great Lakes	Isley Bowser	10	Salem, OH
Great Lakes	Oliver Lambert	15	Farmersburg, IN
Mid-Atlantic	Evelyn Wassall	16	Runnemede, NJ
Mid-Atlantic	Colton Wilks	14	Warren Center, PA
Midwest	Edward Lutkehus	13	Chappell, NE
Midwest	Stella Mende	15	Rolla, MO
Northwest	Hudson Sauer	16	Stanwood, WA
Northwest	Jaycie Reeves	12	Helena, MT
Southern	Asher Weittenhiller	17	McKinney, TX
Southern	Gianna Ross	10	New Braunfels, TX
Southwest	Marc Gock-Hayes	14	San Mateo, CA
Southwest	Alaska Harris	12	Whitewater, CO
Southeast	Maddie Hanley	14	Columbia, SC
New England	Miranda Meighen	13	Bozrah, CT

 

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