More than 200 people attended the “Citizenship and Shooting” event, held at Hillsdale College in partnership with USA Shooting, from October 21-22.
This unique event included a Hillsdale campus tour, five-stand shooting, an international skeet clinic, recognition of Team USA Olympians, and speeches from Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn, USA Shooting CEO Kelly Reisdorf, five-time Olympic medalist Vincent Hancock and Rio 2016 Paralympic bronze medalist McKenna Geer.
Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn gave a speech on the place of the Second Amendment in the Constitution.
“We’re in the education business here at Hillsdale College,” Dr. Arnn said. “We want them to grow up to be free. We want them to know. We want them to learn. We want them to build their character. And shooting is good for that.”
After the international skeet clinic with instruction from Vincent Hancock, he shared his story about competition in five Olympic games.
Additionally, three-time Paralympian McKenna Geer spoke about her fight against Meta censorship, after several of her Instagram posts were flagged and her account was restricted prior to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in August.
USA Shooting CEO Kelly Reisdorf also provided remarks about the organization’s mission.
“There’s a consistency in the medals that we have been delivering for the country,” Reisdorf said. “And there’s the Hillsdale partnership—that’s been the last five to six years—which has been absolutely terrific. I look forward to many, many more years together, and we’re so grateful for the support. It’s a force multiplier in terms of what we’re trying to do.”
The program concluded with open shooting at Hillsdale College’s John Anthony Halter Shooting Sports Education Center, which has served as the home of the USA Shooting National Team since 2019.
The USA Shooting National Team trains at the Halter Center for the Olympics and other national and international competitions. The Halter Center also hosts the Junior Nationals in rifle, Junior and Senior Nationals in International Skeet and Trap, International Paralympic Grand Prix events, Olympic training camps, Junior World training camps and Junior Olympic Development Camps.
“Through our partnership with USA Shooting, Hillsdale College is becoming a national and international hub for the shooting sports,” Hillsdale College Chief Administration Officer Rich Péwé said. “Our collaboration provides Team USA athletes with world-class training facilities while allowing Hillsdale students to develop their shooting sports skills under some of the best and most disciplined athletes in the world.”
Four current Hillsdale College shotgun athletes—senior Josh Corbin, sophomore Madeline Corbin, sophomore Ava Downs and junior Jordan Sapp—are members of the U.S. Junior National Team, along with junior Sophia Bultema, who competes on the U.S. National Paralympic Team.
In addition, Hillsdale College is anticipating the completion of a 62,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor rifle and pistol building at the Halter Center in May 2025.
Learn more about Hillsdale College and USA Shooting.
