Our Latest Scholarship Recipients

Our Latest Scholarship Recipients

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May 24, 2024
Our three latest scholarship recipients in front of the fireplace at the Sconce
with Lindy on graduation day.
L to R, Jason Nelson (who won the shoot-off and received an E ticket),
Avrohom  Feldman, Lindy and Jacob Lightle.
Janelle Cooper’s Graduation Brownies

Janelle Cooper’s Graduation Brownies

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Janelle Cooper’s Graduation Brownies
(with enhancements courtesy of Lindy Cooper Wisdom)
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 tsp coarsely ground salt
1 stick butter
1 cup water
4 TBSP Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder
     (Lindy:  I prefer unsalted butter
                     I use 3/4 cup water and 1/4 cup Kraken Dark Coffee Rum)
1/2 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
     (Lindy:  I add 1/2 tsp. espresso powder and 1/4 cup Skor bits or Heath Bar bits)
In a large bowl, mix sugar, flour and salt.
In a small, heavy saucepan, bring water, butter and cocoa to a boil.
Remove from heat and add to the dry ingredients.
Add sour cream, eggs, soda, espresso powder and Skor bits and mix until well-blended.
Pour into greased and floured 10 x 16 x 2 inch baking pan.
Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.
Frosting:
I stick butter
6 TBSP half and half
4 TBSP Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. (or 4 cups) powdered sugar
     (Lindy:  I use honey roasted pecan pieces———find them in the salad garnish section)
                     I add a pinch of espresso powder here as well.)
Cook and stir first three ingredients in the same pan as the first cocoa mixture.
Remove from heat and mix in vanilla, nuts and sugar.   Mix until smooth.
Frost brownies as soon as they come out of the oven, while still warm.
     (Lindy:   Here I sprinkle liberally with Skor bits.)
Let cool, then cover and refrigerate.
Cut, serve and enjoy!
Catherine Theresa Hastings Jones

Catherine Theresa Hastings Jones

Tess
We mourn the loss of Catherine Theresa Hastings Jones, “Tess”, who died last evening after a long battle with cancer.   She was the youngest granddaughter of Jeff and Janelle and an active member of our Board of Directors.  She was 48.  She leaves behind her husband Jeremy, and daughters Ari (15) and Cate (13), in addition to her mother, sister, aunts, cousins, in-laws, and a huge circle of friends.
A bright light has gone out of our lives and we hope to be able to honor her memory by moving forward with as much grace, humor, strength, dignity, empathy and loving kindness as she embodied in her too-short life.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, please send email to: tess(at)jeffcooperfoundation.org
5 Foundation scholarship recipients have gone on to become instructors at Gunsite!

5 Foundation scholarship recipients have gone on to become instructors at Gunsite!

       
On a whim I applied for a Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation scholarship in the fall of 2019 never thinking I would receive it. After submitting my application on line, about a week or so later I received a letter stating that I was the recipient. Not sure what to do and not being very informed on what exactly Gunsite was, I called a friend of mine who I had been training with and instructing for, for many years, John Farnam (Gunsite Student). He said do it! I know enough about John that when he says to do something, you should probably do it. With my wife’s blessing I decided to attend the 250 the week before the 2019 GAS and it was life changing for me.
I instantly took an extreme liking to the instructor’s, culture, method of instruction and physical location of Gunsite. I had been training on my own and with my police organization for many years but I have, and always keep an open mind when it comes to firearms training. I learned a tremendous amount that week from RM John Hall, Joe Avila, Amy Grant and Ken Tuttle. When I participated in GAS that Saturday I met Matt Olivier, Rob Leahy, Isaac Hanson and Andy Rowe and shot with all day and we all became instant friends to this day.
Upon returning to my home state of New Jersey I planned to return ASAP to Gunsite. In September of 2020 I retired from the New Jersey State Police after 26 years . My last day was on a Tuesday and that Friday I was in my truck driving out to Gunsite for a 350, GAS and 499. It was during those two weeks that I started thinking about what it took to be an instructor at Gunsite. My learning continued and my fondness for the place grew.
Shortly after my 3 day ride returning to NJ, I was again planning my return to Gunsite. I took a position with my local Sheriff’s Office and returned the following summer to Phoenix for the National Sheriff’s Conference and thought why don’t I take another course at Gunsite while I’m out there. So, in June of 2021 I participated in a 556 class and again, learned a tremendous amount due to the excellent instruction of Joe Knapp and Matt Ostrander. It was then that I spoke with several instructors about becoming a provost instructor.
During 2022 I travelled to Gunsite multiple times to satisfy the required course of instruction necessary to become an instructor and had the absolute pleasure of working with RM’s Freddie Blish, Dave Hartman and Jeff Dooley among other outstanding men. My last week as provost was right before GAS. Myself and Provost Instructor Matt Eagleston were both made instructors at the same time. This undoubtedly, marked one of the most notable accomplishments I have ever had the pleasure of obtaining. It required a considerable financial obligation in travel, an extraordinary effort and a tremendous investment of time. The three things that made it possible for me to accomplish this goal was God, family and my passion for teaching good people to defend themselves against evil.
And that’s my story! – Matthew Avenatti (Scholarship recipient)  
Arizona Pioneers’ Home Cemetery – Final resting place for Jeff and Janelle’s remains

Arizona Pioneers’ Home Cemetery – Final resting place for Jeff and Janelle’s remains

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Arizona Pioneers’ Home Cemetery

The Cooper Family would like to announce that a final resting place for Jeff and Janelle’s remains has been secured at the Arizona Pioneers’ Home Cemetery in Prescott at the request of the family.  While Gunsite has been completely supportive of the Coopers remaining in the mausoleum in perpetuity, a family decision was made to ensure long term security and allow easier access by family and friends.  The Arizona Pioneers’ Home Cemetery is surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Prescott, and is home to some of the area’s most noted figures, including Sharlot Hall, Big Nose Kate, and a majority of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.  All are welcome to visit.     The Coopers’ home at the Sconce will remain a monument to Jeff and Janelle on Gunsite Ranch, sponsored and maintained by Gunsite Academy.  The new Gunsite 250 Pistol Course graduates will continue to visit the Sconce after graduation.  It will also be open by appointment to Gunsite family members to visit and enjoy by scheduling through Gunsite Academy.