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OKNASP coordinator Jay Rouk, left, and Wildlife Department Director J.D. Strong, right, with top archers, from left, Madison Spoonemore, Locust Grove; Cayden Eyestone, Chandler; Jarod Aycox, Zaneis; Karson Warrington, Healdton; and Reece Marble, Salina. Not pictured: Trenton Gardner, Salina. STATE ARCHERY STUDENTS ON TARGET AT NATIONALS The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission recently recognized a half-dozen Oklahoma students for being among America’s elite young archers. The youths all placed in the top five in various divisions at national com- petitions conducted by the National Archery in the Schools program earlier this year. These archers are the cream of the crop not only in Oklahoma but also the nation. The students honored were: • Cayden Eyestone of Chandler (Park Road), first place out of 2,229 competing, elementary boys division, Eastern national shoot. • Madison Spoonemore of Locust Grove, fourth place out of 2,610, high school girls division, Eastern national shoot. • Jarod Aycox of Zaneis, first place out of 296, middle boys division, Western national shoot. • Trenton Gardner of Salina, first place out of 225, high school boys division, Western national shoot. • Karson Warrington of Healdton, second place out of 225, high school boys division, Western national shoot. • Reece Marble of Salina, third place out of 142, elementary division, Western national shoot. Nationally, more than 2 million youths participate in the NASP program each year. In Oklahoma, more than 60,000 students in about 650 schools are active in OKNASP. About 180 Oklahoma students qualified to attend one of the national NASP shoots. Wildlife Conservation Commissioner Bill Brewster com- mended the students and the outstanding success of the OKNASP program, saying, “I don’t know of any other program of any kind that can show that much involvement of the youth in Oklahoma.” To learn more about the Oklahoma Archery in the Schools program and how local schools can get involved in the Department's educational programs, go to www.wildlifedepartment.com/education 10 Off the Beaten Path DON P. BROWN/ODWC