Y.E.S. Stories of Giving: Serena Juchnowski’s Inspiration and Impact

The NRA Foundation is celebrating #GivingTuesday 2018 by supporting the NRA’s Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) with its fundraising campaign. Leading up to the big day on November 27, tune in each Tuesday to learn more about some of the passionate young advocates for freedom who have attended Y.E.S as we highlight their applications and impact stories. We hope you’ll think of these leaders when making your #GivingTuesday donation—100 percent of your contribution will go to NRA’s Youth Education Summit Scholarship Fund.

No one knows the value of the Y.E.S. program better than the participants themselves. Learn about the positive impact that the program and its participants have on their communities, our country and the world as we share stories of Y.E.S. alumni, by Y.E.S. alumni. We hope you’ll join us in recognizing these remarkable young men and women. The inspiring impact story below features 2016 Y.E.S. participant and scholarship winner Serena Juchnowski.



The NRA Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) motto “Lead the Legacy” is not only evident during the weeks of the program each summer, but also in the enduring attitudes of Y.E.S. alumni.

Y.E.S. alumna and scholarship recipient Serena Juchnowski still carries that legacy with her, even two years after attending the program in 2016. She represented Ohio at the national Y.E.S. and formed close bonds with fellow participants—

they now keep in contact for reunions via social media. Those lasting connections are a product of how the Y.E.S. program unites like-minded individuals from across the country through a love for America and the shooting sports.

One of Serena’s most memorable experiences from her time in Washington D.C. is the impact of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “You could feel the emotions of so many families and imagine their pain just by looking at the names and the small little tokens various family members had left,” she described. Even though she did not have a personal tie to the memorial, Serena felt the strong effect it’s representation of so many lives lost had on everyone who visited.

For her outstanding participation during the 2016 summit, Serena received a $1,500 end-of-week scholarship. She went on to earn a $6,500 Y.E.S. Grand Scholarship as well, truly showing that she displays the qualities of leadership and engagement promoted by the program.

Y.E.S. also drove Serena to share her experiences in the program and her love for the shooting sports with her community. Serena has educated others on hunting and shooting sports and taught youth outside of school. Now, she is furthering her education by attending Case Western University to pursue a career in the shooting and hunting industries. Her involvement in the NRA is relentless as she continues to write pieces for its magazines like NRA Family. She also has published articles in the Civilian Marksmanship Program online magazine The First Shot, Gunpowder Magazine and many more.



The Y.E.S. program has helped Serena develop both personally and professionally as it guided her to discover her life's passion. Like her, many more Y.E.S. alumni have continued to give back to the NRA and apply life skills from Y.E.S. in their daily lives. Serena Juchnowski is a prime example of how Y.E.S. alumni are Leading the Legacy.

Create your own story of giving! Turn your intention into action and say “YES” to Y.E.S. by making a donation today at www.friendsofnra.org/GivingTuesday. 100 percent of your contribution made here to The NRA Foundation funds NRA’s Youth Education Summit Scholarship Fund. Through participation in the Y.E.S. program, students compete for up to $55,000 in college scholarships. That’s where you come in! Help us support the young men and women who will Lead the Legacy of freedom into the future—invest in the next generation of Second Amendment champions.