Press Release from NASP:
In November of 2015, National NASP® leadership and a group of NASP® educators and students met to discuss ways to further enhance the 15-year-old program. One recommendation was to establish a uniform incentive and recognition format to recognize and promote academic achievement for participating NASP® students. The concept of a NASP® Academic Archer was recommended.
The status of being recognized nationally as a “NASP® Academic Archer” was discussed and the NASP® advisory recommended that the designation should involve the following:
- The NASP® Academic Archer program is an optional program, available only to participating NASP® schools – participation is a local decision and in accordance with existing local school policies.
- NASP® BAI certified teachers/coaches can enter eligible students into NASP’s website for Academic Archer status using their BAI number.
- All students that fully participate in an in-school NASP® archery class or participate on the archery team at a recognized NASP® school and meet local academic criteria for recognition, are eligible to be entered for Academic Archer status.
The Academic Archer program is independent from any/all forms of tournament participation.
Each student that is entered/registered into NASP’s website as a NASP® Academic Archer, will be automatically registered for a chance to win 1 of 10 free Genesis bows and specially marked Easton arrows – which will be given away each year by NASP®. Names of winners will be announced at the national NASP® tournament.
The NASP® advisory offered the following guidelines if no local school criteria exist for Academic Archer recognition:
- The Student should be/have been a full participant in their school’s “in-school” NASP® archery class during the time period where academic recognition and recommendation is considered.
- Academic Archers can also be members of the school archery team (if one exists) during the time period where academic recognition and recommendation is considered.
- The Student should have no D’s or F’s (or equivalent), in order to qualify as a NASP® Academic Archer.
- The designated Academic Archer should maintain a grade point average that establishes them well within existing school GPA criteria for high academic scholarship.
When no school academic recognition criteria exists, the local NASP® coach should consult and collaborate with the school principal to establish such criteria, before designating students with Academic Archer status.
Each Academic Archer may be provided with a certificate suitable for framing at the local NASP® banquet or school-sponsored student academic recognition ceremony according to local practices.
NASP® teachers/coaches can also designate eligible students for Academic Archer status when utilizing the NASP website for any NASP® tournament – See NASP’s website for instructions regarding designating for NASP® Academic Archer status when registering.
The NASP® advisory also suggested that an optional recognition symbol be established for participating NASP® Academic Archers. NASP® and our partner Electronic Awards have developed a low cost, iron-on shoulder patch that can be purchased by any school. To order the iron-on shoulder patches, click here. Patches are inexpensive and can be purchased in bulk for team applications.
Reminder – all decisions on designating students with Academic Archer status are local decisions and should involve collaboration between the NASP® educator and the principal of the school.
Without existing school criteria, NASP® recommends that schools follow the recommendations of the NASP® advisory.
National NASP® will support any/all local NASP® Academic Archer status designations and will recognize NASP® Academic Archer designees as a group at each flight of the NASP® National Tournament.
NASP® will promote the Academic Archer program on their website, social media and industry media outlets.
Please find the files associated with the NASP® Academic Archer program at the following toolkit link.
Includes:
- Link to order patches
- Copy of the document above
- Links to downloadable PDF versions of the certificates
- Link for coaches to enter their NASP® Academic Archers
Or you can find additional information at the NASP® website!