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(Previous Years)

The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund also distributes to libraries, public defender services, and other persons free books and law review articles for educational purposes, provides research grants, and conducts a student writing contest and law student scholarship writing contest. Such activities are a public benefit. The recipients of research grants have resulted in the publication of scholarly writings, which end up in the public domain. Recent activities in this area include the following:
  • At September 15, 2006, meeting a $10,000 grant was given for the 2006 Second Amendment Symposium at George Mason University Law School (Virginia). 
  • At September 15, 2006, meeting a $53,000 research grant was given to Independence Institute.
  • At September 15, 2006, meeting $5,000 research grant on Right to Hunt was given to (Stephen P. Halbrook, Ph.D.
    At September 15, 2006, meeting $5,000 research and writing grant to David Hardy.
  • At September 15, 2006, meeting $9,000 educational grant for Second Amendment Documentary Film (David Hardy). The grant is to be taken from accumulated earnings of the Catherine Post Woodring Educational Scholarship Trust. The trust is restricted to educational purposes.
  • At January 5, 2007, meeting $10,000 for National Firearms Law Seminar to be taken from the Catherine Post Woodring Educational Scholarship Trust.
  • At January 5, 2007, meeting $2,500 for Junior and Senior Student Writing Contest from the Catherine Post Woodring Educational Scholarship Trust.
  • At January 5, 2007, meeting $5,000 for Second Amendment weblog (also known as blog) (David Hardy) to be taken from the Catherine Post Woodring Educational Scholarship Trust.
  • At January 5, 2007, meeting $7,500 for Research & Writing Grant Law Review Project (David Hardy).
  • At January 5, 2007, meeting $45,000 to Independence Institute Research Grant (David B. Kopel).
An educational grant of $15,000 was provided at the April 25, 2003, meeting. It has resulted in the publication of a book: Clayton E. Cramer, Armed America: The Remarkable Story of How and Why Guns Became as American as Apple Pie (2007).

2008 NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Youth Essay Contest 

Papers were submitted for the 2008 contest by students enrolled in an elementary, junior high or high school. Nearly 1,200 essays were submitted for the contest setting a new record for entries. The papers were graded by Attorney Skipp Galythly.  The winners were selected by a committee made up of attorneys Skipp Galythly, Matt Bower, Lindsay Charles, and Legal Assistance Ashleigh McFadden.

Senior Category (Grades 10 through 12)

First Place
Henry Hoffman, 12th Grade Batavia, OH
 Second Place
William L. Pinson, 12th Grade Colorado Springs, CO
 Third Place
Lauren Carolyn McLeod, 12th Grade Sunrise, FL
 Honorable Mention 
Sophie Arlow, 12th Grade Medina, WA
 


Junior Category (Grades 9 and below)

First Place
Skyler Gabel, 8th Grade
Cody, WY
 Second Place
Stacie L. Kozachuk, 7th Grade Syracuse, NY
 Third Place
Corinne Iffland, 8th Grade Jacksonville, FL
  Honorable Mention
 Vincent Tian, 9th Grade Fremont, CA 
 

First prizes are $1,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds; second prizes, $600 in Savings Bonds; third prizes, $200 in Savings Bonds; and honorable mention, $100 in Savings Bonds.

Law Student Writing Contest for 2006-2007. The papers were graded by Professor Robert J. Cottrol. The winners were James Andrew Salemme, Duquesne University School of Law; Mary Elizabeth Parrilla, Thomas M. Cooley Law School; and Daniel J. Huyck, University of Minnesota Law School.

Law Student Scholarship Writing Contest for 2006-2007. The papers were graded by Professor Robert J. Cottrol. The winners were Craig M. Hoehns, Oklahoma City University School of Law, and Dylan Orton, University of Idaho College of Law.

2007 NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Youth Essay Contest 

Papers were submitted for the 2007 contest by students enrolled in an elementary, junior high or high school. Nearly 700 essays were submitted, the second highest total ever received. The papers were graded by Attorney Skipp Galythly.

Senior Category

First Prize 
Aaron Middleton of Humble, TX $1,000 savings bond
Second Prize
Anna Roberts of Walnut Shade, MO $600 savings bond
Third Prize
Kenton Sena of Hebron, KY $200 savings bond
Honorable Mention 
Mariah Bell of Chehalis, MI $100 savings bond


Junior Category

First Prize
Kelsey Johnson of Billings, MT $1,000 savings bond
Second Prize
Priya Purewal of Irving, TX $600 savings bond
Third Prize
Victoria Gu of Wakefield, RI $200 savings bond
 Honorable Mention
 Rishi Kapadia of Cerritos, CA $100 savings bond

Papers were submitted for the 2006 Civil Rights Defense Fund Youth Essay Contest by students enrolled in elementary or secondary school. The CRDF received an unprecedented 900 essays this year. The papers were graded by Attorney Skipp Galythly with the assistance of Attorneys Sarah Gervase and Matthew Bower and intern Karen Mellor. The winners are as follows:  

Senior Category

First Prize 
Sunjay K. Gorawara of Buffalo Grove, IL
Second Prize
Katherine Lynn O’Keefe of Pleasant Hill, CA
Third Prize
Benjamin Tannenwald of Overland Park, KS
Honorable Mention 
Byrel Mitchell of New Paris, IN


Junior Category

First Prize
Matthew Dlabich of Chester, MD
Second Prize
Kjirstin Almos of Clear Lake, SD
Third Prize
Lisa Liang of Morgantown, WV
Honorable Mention
 Abbie Tonello of Sagamore Beach, MA

An additional 100 students received Special Awards for their efforts.
Samantha Allen Zachary Dunn Andrew Kischner Amber Pratt
Benjamin Anderson Kirk Erickson Stephanie Kover Stephen Ragno
Danielle Austin Ashley Erskine Jonathan Krisko Jacob Reed
Sequoya Balboa Dan Ewert Krystal Kunz Kyle Alexander
William Ballance-Walsh Sebastian Florez Lee Anne LaPlue Stephen Rondone
Philip Baugh Kelsey Friedrichsen Emil Liakhovetski Ravi Sankar
Elizabeth Beckett David Foster Kyle MacFarlan Grant Scwertzing
Andrew Bonin Matthew Gerken Chelsea Madrang Joe Shadduck
Karissa Brahler James Gibson Wilfred Manzano Alexander Stephens
Zachary Bright Alicia Graf J.B. Marek Ashley Strain
Sara Brummer Eric Grant Andrew Matsumoto K. Michelle Springer
Bonnie Buckingham Lisa Guerra Coy Matthews Sanaz Talaifar
Katie Bush Abbie Hall Melissa McCann Ethan Touzjian
Aislynn Cannon John Hammons Melinda McDonald Aparajita Tripathi
Alex Chandler Alexandra Harrison Michael Mendis Jennifer Turri
Molly Cook Clacey Henry Douglas Menton Jaime Varela
Lindsey Cornum Toni Henry Elizabeth Munago Shannon Veyon
Scott Coryell John Hixson Joseph Muscarella Bill Waldrep
Jaclyn Crumbley Rachel Horning Adrienne Myers Kevin Wandrei
Evan Davis Susan Hwang Thomas Neeck Jessica Wasson
Jason Paul Davis Sara Ingle Lucas Nevola  Meghan White
Tess DeLean Matthew Jeppesen Sabrina Norton Emily Williams
Aryelle Delgado Charles Johnson  James Pappas  Bailey Williams
Anna Lynn Doster Benjamin Johnson David Pasquazzi Kirsten Williamson
Emily Drewel  Christine Kim  Sabra Perry Victoria Yee

Law Student Writing Contest for 2006-2007. The papers were graded by Professor Robert J. Cottrol. The winners were James Andrew Salemme, Duquesne University School of Law; Mary Elizabeth Parrilla, Thomas M. Cooley Law School; and Daniel J. Huyck, University of Minnesota Law School.

Law Student Scholarship Writing Contest for 2006-2007. The papers were graded by Professor Robert J. Cottrol. The winners were Craig M. Hoehns, Oklahoma City University School of Law, and Dylan Orton, University of Idaho College of Law.

Law Student Writing Contest for 2005-2006.  The papers were graded by Professor Robert J. Cottrol.  The winners were, First Place: Peter J. Linken, Fordham University School of Law, $5,000; Second Place: Dylan Orton, University of Idaho College of Law, $3,000; Third Place: Benjamin Shapiro, Harvard Law School, $2,000; Fourth Place tie: Peter Caleb Faerber, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, $1,000; Fourth Place tie: Andrew K. Taylor, Seton Hall University School of Law, $1,000.

Law Student Scholarship Writing Contest for 2005-2006.  The papers were graded by Professor Robert J. Cottrol. The winners were Christopher L. Zealand, University of Michigan Law School, first place $12,500; Lindsey L. Kiser, Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University , second place $5,000; Christopher A. George, Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University, third place $2,500.

Northern Illinois College of Law Writing Contest for 2005.  The papers were graded by Attorney Skipp Galythly.  The winners were Carrie Lynn P. Vine, Ph.D., first place $1,200; Daniel Greco, second place $800; Nathan Ihnes, third place $500.

For more information about submitting an entry to an NRACRDF writing contest, please click the "Writing Contests & Scholarships" link at left.


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