Scholarships, Support, and a Future Worth Aiming For
This past weekend at the 2025 Georgia SCTP State Championship, Georgia SCTP celebrated more than just scores — the Georgia SCTP celebrated futures. For the first time, Georgia SCTP awarded its own scholarships to three graduating seniors who began their journey in our Rookie Division and never looked back. These athletes exemplify the heart of SCTP: growth, commitment, leadership, and sportsmanship. Offering these inaugural scholarships was a proud and emotional milestone — one that’s been years in the making.
This exciting new chapter is a reminder that SCTP is about more than just competition. We’re not just training athletes for the shooting line — we’re investing in their futures long after they leave the field.
We were also honored to welcome Ray Stapleton, father of Seth Stapleton and founder of the Seth Stapleton Memorial Foundation, along with Coach Steve Lane, as they presented four scholarships through the Shoot for Seth Memorial Fund. Seth, a proud athlete on the Lake Oconee Shotgun Team, had a deep love for this sport and the SCTP community. Thanks to this lasting legacy, Seth will always be a part of SCTP. Now in its ninth year, the Shoot for Seth fundraiser has awarded over 300 scholarships totaling more than $300,000 to Georgia’s clay target athletes. Each February, the event brings together hundreds of shooters, supporters, and sponsors at Old Hudson Plantation — all united in preserving Seth’s memory by helping young athletes pursue their education and passion for the sport. It is a powerful reminder of the difference one life can make and the enduring strength of a community united by purpose.
The Sharon Weeks Memorial Scholarships, presented by the Low Country Annie Oakleys, were awarded to three outstanding young women. Named in honor of a beloved mentor and advocate, these scholarships reflect the Annie Oakleys’ mission to promote the growth of women in the shotgun sports while also supporting a wide range of community initiatives across Georgia and South Carolina. Their continued leadership and generosity are shaping futures across the region.
Scholarship recipient Alli Gray Everson shared:
“It was a huge honor to be a recipient of the Sharon Weeks, Shoot for Seth, and GA SCTP scholarships this weekend at the state shoot. With memorial funds like for Mrs. Sharon and Seth, there’s an extra special feeling knowing you were selected and can only hope to live up to those legacies. These scholarships will help me to achieve my educational and career goals! Thank you to the Georgia SCTP for allowing me the opportunity to be a competitive shooter from 5th grade all the way through my senior year. I will always love the shooting sports!”
Ryland Hyder, recipient of the inaugural GA SCTP scholarship, said:
“Being chosen to receive the GA SCTP inaugural Scholarship was a great honor! It will help me attend a college where I can continue competing while also allowing me to focus on my studies. GA SCTP has been a major part of my shooting career and without it I would not have had the opportunity to grow to love this sport!”
