GAINESVILLE – Kiara Diaz, an Okeechobee home school student, won first place in the Elementary School Female division at the 2025 Florida State Archery Tournament, held April 12 at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center in Gainesville.

The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is an in-school program aimed at improving educational performance among students in grades 4–12. NASP is one of the fastest growing in-school physical education programs in the country.

Through NASP students are learning focus, self-control, discipline, patience and the life lessons required to be successful in the classroom and in life. Students involved in NASP reported feeling 58% more connected in school and improved academically by 40%.

NASP, sponsored by FWC, is designed to teach international-style target archery in grades 4-12 physical education classes. Before presenting the archery course, teachers undergo an 8-hour NASP Basic Archery Instructor Training course.  476 Florida schools have already enrolled.

Core content covers archery, safety, technique, equipment, mental concentration and self-improvement. In addition, the curriculum provides interesting and creative possibilities for integration with core content in social studies, mathematics, visual arts, history and English/language arts.

Archery helps build muscle endurance and flexibility, develop hand-eye-coordination, and grip and body strength. You don't have to be 6-foot 2 and able to dunk a basketball to participate. Girls can compete with boys, and youngsters with physical disabilities can also participate.

Students who do not normally participate and enjoy sports-related or extra-curricular activities seem to excel in this program -- something that invariably carries over into their attitude, work habits and other school activities. NASP often inspires after-school activities shared by families and friends. The program teaches discipline, respect and self-control.

For more information, contact  Grayson Giles, Grayson.Giles@MyFWC.com, 850-488-8984.