News Release Distributed 07/19/11
A Livingston Parish 4-H member recently received a scholarship from the Friends of the National Rifle Association in Washington, D. C.
Daniel Wendt, a senior at Denham Springs High School and one of 45 youth from across the country to attend the Youth Education Summit, received the largest scholarship awarded at the event. He received his scholarship based partly on an essay he wrote about what the authors of the Constitution meant concerning the Second Amendment.
During his week-long stay in Washington, Wendt also was required to prepare and present a speech about whether the media should be required to be fair and impartial in their reporting and participated in a debate on whether the website Wikileaks was beneficial or harmful to the country.
Attendees also toured the U.S. Capitol, the National Archives Museum, Marine Corps Base-Quantico, the NRA National Firearm Museum and many of the monuments located in the area.
Wendt says he is now competing for the NRA’s largest scholarship, which he called the “grand scholarship.”
“It is a $20,000 scholarship. For this scholarship, I’ve begun building a portfolio of how to promote some of the NRA programs in my area,” Wendt said.
Programs Wendt is focusing on include gun safety, youth programs and the Refuse to be a Victim program. Another point of emphasis for him is promoting individual liberty and freedoms in America.
Wendt has been a 4-H member since the fourth grade and is entering his ninth year with the youth organization. He has participated in the Livingston Parish Outdoor Sports program throughout his 4-H experience.
“I enjoy shooting anything, whether it is archery, shotguns or rifles. But what I really enjoy to shoot the most is pistols,” Wendt said. “I shoot pretty much the standard .22 Ruger pistol; nothing really fancy.”
As a senior, Wendt is looking forward to his last year in high school. As part of the culmination of his 4-H career, he is currently serving on the state 4-H Citizenship Board. This past year, he served as the president of the board.
One of the major goals of the Citizenship Board is to engage its members in service-learning projects. This past year Wendt and the board decided to focus on the BP oil spill and the effects it had on the Louisiana coast.
With the prospect of winning a $20,000 scholarship, Wendt already has some ideas of how he would use the money. “Yale sent me an admissions application, so it would be great to go there. I also like Hillsdale College. And of course, LSU is close to home,” Wendt said.
Wendt’s parents are Robert and Margaret Wendt. His brother, William, attends Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss.
Craig Gautreaux