Our Latest Scholarship Recipient 8/7/2026

Congratulations to our latest scholarship recipient, Kim Pastore. August 7, 2026
What Kim had to say about her experience:
I am so proud to have been selected for the Jeff Cooper Legacy Scholarship. After losing my husband in the Line of Duty, I had to find a path forward. I had shot occasionally with Jorge but mostly to familiarize myself with the firearms in our home. After he was killed I was invited to attend a training. I spent 2 days learning how to shoot from fundamentals to movement. I was in way over my head but the care and attention the instructor gave me made the experience incredible. I quickly realized that while I was shooting my mind was free of grief and sadness. I had to focus on what I was doing. Safety was of utmost importance and I was learning a lot in a short amount of time. I woke up the next day craving that feeling of focus and clarity. I started to shoot more and connected with Randy Wallen who has become a dear friend. He took me shooting and got me ready for my first Tactical Games Skirmish. He shared everything he learned from Gunsite and frequently referred to the teachings of Jeff Cooper. He made me aware of the scholarship and said that a week at Gunsite would be lifechanging.
My experience at Gunsite was just that. It was the first time I was doing something just for me since losing Jorge. I was challenged, encouraged, motivated and pushed through a 40 hour plus week of training. I was so impressed with the beautiful facility. It was so clean (especially the restrooms) which I greatly appreciated as a woman on many ranges. The staff was professional, helpful and courteous. I quickly concluded that this was GUNSITE, this was Jeff Cooper’s Legacy. It was the total package, real deal and top notch facility committed to providing the best training out there while honoring the man who gave so much of himself to this community. The pride is felt in every fiber of Gunsite. The instructors worked through some challenges I faced with kindness and compassion which I deeply appreciated. I can’t say enough about my experience and will definitely be back.
Thank you for all you do. It matters! We are on this earth to lift one another up and that’s exactly what happened during my week at Gunsite!