The Virgin Islands National Archery in the Schools Program (VI NASP) celebrated another milestone as top student archers earned scholarship awards at the 2026 National Championships, held on March 8 at the Multi-Purpose Complex in Road Town.
Marking the largest tournament in the program’s history, the event saw 76 students registered, with 69 archers competing for national rankings, medals, and scholarship prizes. The championship also coincided with the 10th anniversary of NASP in the Virgin Islands, highlighting a decade of growth in youth archery across the Territory.
Standout performances came from Ava Ghiorse of Cedar International School, who secured the title of top female archer with a score of 268, and Ethan Ismael of BVI Seventh-day Adventist School, who led the boys’ division with 264 points. Both scores rank among the strongest recorded in the program’s history.
Scholarships were awarded to the top five male and female archers, providing financial support toward their future educational goals. In the female division, Malia Connell of St. George’s Secondary School earned the highest scholarship award of $2,100, while in the male division, Valentin Zaharebelnyj of Ciboney Centre for Excellence secured the top award of $2,100.
Overall, the program continues to make a significant impact, with over $116,000 in scholarships awarded to date and more than $28,000 already paid out to support students pursuing college and other tertiary education.
Over the past decade, VI NASP has developed a strong pipeline of talented archers, including consistent top performers such as Valentin Zaharebelnyj, Ava Ghiorse, Nicholas Moore, and Sheylon Brown. Zaharebelnyj currently stands as the program’s highest overall scholarship earner, with nearly $10,000 awarded across multiple tournaments.
One of the most remarkable moments in the history of the program occurred in 2017, when Rayne Duff (Cedar International School) and Shania Daigneault (Elmore Stoutt High School) each scored 277, tying as the top overall archers of the tournament. Both later used their scholarship awards to pursue college education.
The growth of the program is also reflected in the introduction of NASP 3D archery,
which debuted in 2025 and expanded in 2026, offering students an additional competitive format and further opportunities to develop their skills.
Since its launch, VI NASP has introduced thousands of students to archery, combining sport with life skills such as discipline, focus, and perseverance. With participation continuing to rise and new opportunities emerging, the program remains committed to expanding youth development through archery in the Virgin Islands.