The National Rifle Association has selected 18-year-old Rachel Glenn of Billings, Montana, to receive its 2003 National Outstanding Achievement Youth Award. Rachel will receive a plaque and a check for $1,000 at a special ceremony during the NRA Board meetings in September.

The award recognizes the NRA junior member who best meets certain core and elective requirements. Core requirements include: NRA membership, membership in an NRA-affiliated club or state association, completion of an NRA Basic Firearm Training Course, participation in an NRA Marksmanship Program, and submission of an essay on "Why I Became Involved in the Shooting Sports." Electives may include membership in a local shooting club, earning an NRA competitive classification card, assisting in a wildlife conservation program, volunteering at the National Matches, or several other activities.

Commenting on her selection, NRA Youth Programs Department Manager Matt Szramoski said, "Rachel is an incredible example of how all youth, both young men and women, can succeed in the shooting sports. She exemplifies how the shooting sports help young people develop life skills such as self-discipline, leadership, and responsibility. We are honored to recognize Rachel as the 2003 NRA Outstanding Achievement Youth Award national winner."

Rachel, in addition to meeting the base criteria, is an active competitive air rifle and smallbore shooter, and has signed a letter of intent to compete in rifle at the University of Texas at El Paso. She finished in the top five in the individual precision category of the 2002 NRA National Junior Air Rifle Championship. Through her local 4-H club, she learned how to become a 3-position air rifle coach, and now teaches gun safety and marksmanship to local youngsters.

Rachel also sees the importance of getting kids involved in competitive shooting for their futures. "It's particularly important to me to see the NRA promote getting kids involved in competitive shooting at the college level," said Rachel.

Rachel is also dedicated to her local community. She cleans a two-mile stretch of highway for the Adopt-A-Highway program, and helps individuals in her community by knitting scarves for the needy.

For information on applying for the NRA Outstanding Youth Achievement Award, call (703) 267-1505 or go to www.nrahq.org/youth/achievement.asp.