Rotary International Wheel
Rotary Int'l

D7150 RYLA Program
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
at Cazenovia College, June 28-30, 2013

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

Facilitator's Welcome
2013 RYLA application
2011 RYLA class photos / team
Applicants Selected
Chair Message * Directions
RYLA Described * RYLA apply
RYLA Criteria * RYLA Pix * Letter of Thanks
R.I.'s RYLA Brochure

The District 7150 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) - to be held June 28-30, 2013 - once again at Cazenovia College.

Message from Chair Larry Richardson & Committee Member Barbara Devendorf: We have begun the process of contacting clubs to commit students and collect applications for the upcoming program. This is an awesome experience for the teens and I would strongly encourage your club to participate this year. We have made it our personal goal to get 100% participation from all clubs in the 7150 district, last year we had 41 teens from our district. Each club should have a RYLA chairperson, this is NOT a time extensive assignment, the responsibilities would include getting applications to local high schools or anywhere you see fit and selecting a teen to participate in the weekend long seminar, for an hour or two.

If you have not participated before, I encourage you to visit the district website and talk with other clubs. This is a tremendous opportunity for our youth.

Below are some highlights of the process:

-- RYLA is an award given by a Rotary club to a teen (normally one entering their senior year) , to recognize the teen for displaying leadership potential and a willingness to serve others. The big benefit of this award is sending the teen to the RYLA seminar June 28-30, 2013, at Cazenovia College.

-- Now is the time for clubs to allocate the money to pay for the teens to attend. Cost will be $300 for each teen. Every club is guaranteed one teen to go. After that, it is up to the district RYLA committee to evaluate the remaining applications and choose the winning ones, until the seminar class is full.

-- The 2012 RYLA application is here on the district web site, www.rotarydistrict7150.org. Clubs should print out applications to distribute, or tell school and church officials where they can be found online. Ideally, each club will have a RYLA chair to coordinate finding applicants. Here is the link.

-- It is up to the club to pick the top candidate. The district will accept the first nominee automatically. Deadline for the district to receive the applications, with the $300 check with each, is May 17, 2013.

-- The ideal way to find qualified candidates is through the local high school guidance office or faculty members. The award is not intended to be a gift to a son or daughter of a Rotarian, but rather to the best qualified teens in the area. The teen, upon completion of the RYLA seminar, is obligated to return home and facilitate the completion of a service project as well as present a program for the sponsoring Rotary club.

-- Ideally, clubs should have a good handle on the applications by the early May. Add'l questions, contact Larry Richardson, RYLA Chair or Barbara Devendorf, Committee Member


July 2011 - The District 7150 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) Class & Staff - Four past district governors served on the RYLA staff this year: Ned Mann, Fred Cholet, Herb Jerry and Jerry Gortner. Larry Richardson was RYLA seminar chairman. Besides them, staff members who are pictured here are Rotarians Theresa Vincelette, Marilyn Anderson, Sylvia Perrone, Sherry Menninger, and Barbara Devendorf, all of the Rotary Club of Chittenango; Phyllis Danks, RC of Marcellus; and Ellen Nowyj. RC of Fulton Sunrise. There were 41 teens who attended RYLA this year at Cazenovia College July 8-10, 2011.


Brooke Cole (Rome) helps build one of four shelves at the RYLA seminar. It was a service project, part of the RYLA program. At the recognition banquet that concluded the seminar, the teens presented the four shelves to Chadwick Residence, of Syracuse. Jenni Gratien, program director for the residence for homeless women, accepted the shelves.

RYLA participants Cheyenne Jayson (Oneida) & Kathryn Costello
(Cazenovia) help Kali Noonan (Little Falls) over the top of the 12- foot-high wall on the challenge course at SUNY Institute of Technology in Utica. Other teens are spotting.


Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle flew up from Washington, D.C., to address the teens attending District 7150's Rotary Youth Leadership Awards seminar. She talked on a variety of subjects, from debt ceiling to teamwork in politics, then fielded 15 questions from the participants. Here, she thanks Jake Jasewicz (Dolgeville) after he presented the congresswoman with a RYLA water thermos.

"Communicate to Motivate" was the topic of Liz Metzger of the Rotary Club of Canastota. The librarian was a presenter at RYLA July 8-10 at Cazenovia College. Here teens tried to make a perfect circle with a rope. Among them are, top from left, Marshal Cominsky (North Utica- Whitestown), Brook Szachta (Moravia), Beth Abbott (Marcellus), Caroline Gadsden (Fayetteville-Manlius) Anthony Finocchiaro (Canastota).

The teens at RYLA competed in a contest to build the highest tower, using only spaghetti and marshmallows. It was an exercise designed to teach teamwork and communication skills. Here Blue Team members Rob Harney (Sherrill), Mitch Hughes (Camden), Kali Noonan (Little Falls)
and Jake Jasewicz (Dolgeville) work on their "masterpiece."


Use of the Cazenovia College's Olympic-size swimming pool was a popular part of District 7150's RYLA program this year. Here the seminar participants play a swimming pool game other teens in the class had invented earlier the same day. They later held an Ugly Dive Competition, which was won by Sarah Sarah Piana (Little Falls).

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Class of 2011

Beth Abbott -- Rotary Club of Marcellus

Alan Baldwin -- Rotary Club of Cazenovia

Maddie Balman -- Rotary Club of Marcellus

Alex Bateman -- Rotary Club of Fulton Sunrise

Mike Best -- Rotary Club of Oriskany Falls

Brooke Cole -- Rotary Club of Rome

Marshal Cominsky -- Rotary Club of North Utica Whitestown

Kathryn Costello -- Rotary Club of Cazenovia

Victoria Darby -- Rotary Club of Dolgeville

Danielle Felty -- Rotary Club of Marcellus

Pat Fink -- Rotary Club of Fulton

Anthony Finocciaro -- Rotary Club of Canastota

Kaleigh Fitzsimmons -- Rotary Club of Oswego

Caroline Gadsden -- Rotary Club of Fayetteville-Manlius

Kelli Getchonis -- Rotary Club of Chittenango

Corey Graham -- Rotary Club of Syracuse Inner-City

Liam Halpin -- Rotary Club of Utica

Rob Harney -- Rotary Club of Sherrill

Shane Holleran -- Rotary Club of Skaneateles Sunrise

Mitch Hughes -- Rotary Club of Camden

Devinne Jaloweic -- Rotary Club of Greater Utica Sunrise

Jake Jasewicz -- Rotary Club of Dolgeville

Cheyenne Jayson -- Rotary Club of Oneida

Sarah Kelly -- Rotary Club of Marcellus

Emily Kott -- Rotary Club of Syracuse Sunrise

Brittany Madden -- Rotary Club of Sauquoit

Samantha McCarthy -- Rotary Club of Canastota

Makenzie Mohorter -- Rotary Club of Chittenango

Kali Noonan -- Rotary Club of Little Falls

Morgan Noone -- Rotary Club of Baldwinsville

Madeleine Perkins -- Rotary Club of Tully

Danielle Petkovsek -- Rotary Club of Little Falls

Sarah Piana -- Rotary Club of Little Falls

Jim Reid -- Rotary Club of Baldwinsville

Madison Singler -- Rotary Club of Skaneateles

Christian Stellakis -- Rotary Club of Chittenango

Brook Szachta -- Rotary Club of Moravia

Katy Trombley -- Rotary Club of Little Falls

Baillie Vensel -- Rotary Club of Marcellus

Karina Wagner -- Rotary Club of Marcellus

Jake Yallowitz -- Rotary Club of Little Falls




July 2010 - The District 7150 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) Class & Faculty


July 2010 - all 43 of the RYLA teens at the base of "The Wall" on the Cazenovia College challenge course. Moments later, all of them were able to get up and over the wall. They enjoyed the challenge of being put outside their comfort zone and being successful at it.


July 2010 RYLA participants work to solve the Spider Web, one of the problem-solving stations on the challenge course. Zack Bonavita (Cazenovia) is being passed through one of the holes in the web by teammates, from left, Aleks Osborne (Chittenango), Homer Davis (Syracuse Inner City), Sarah Hafler (Tully), Dave Johnson (Fulton) and Ricky Alfreds (Marcellus).

Three girls from the Yellow Team paint an 8-foot wall section of a song bird flight cage the RYLA class built, then donated to wildlife rehabilitator Cindy Page. This was the class service project at RYLA. Each teen also is expected to complete an individual service project at home by the end of thje year. These girls are, from left, Aleks Osborne (Chittenango), Kate Wawro (Camillus) and Sarah Hafler (Tully).

July 2010 the Orange Team No. 2 building its spaghetti and marshmallow tower during that competition at RYLA. This is the winning team, whose tower was 46 inches tall. The teens are, clockwise from left, Zack Wiley (Marcellus), Aaron Yallowitz (Little Falls), Abby Rathgeb (Skaneateles Sunrise), Morgan Charde (Chittenango) and Taylor Kacur (Cato).

July 2010 The RYLA teens had to invent two swimming pool games, then teach it to the other participants. They played the two games in the Cazenovia College pool. They also held an "ugly dive" competition. That was won by Zack Wiley (Marcellus), in foreground of this photo.

July 2010 RYLA participants listen to presenter Teresa Huggins of Clinton talk about Leading for Life. She offered 1 of 12 workshops from presenters who shared their expertise and advice. Huggins, an author, is director of teen leadership training camps.

July 2010 Cindy Page, a wildlife rehabilitator from Pompey, shows a rare peregrine falcon to the RYLA teens. She also had a screech owl and barred owl with her for a presentation on rehabilitating injured animals.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Class of 2010

Ricky Alfreds, Rotary Club of Marcellus
Charity Baker, Rotary Club of Williamson
Sophie Beratta, Rotary Club of Marcellus
Zach Bonavita, Rotary Club of Cazenovia
Jeremiah Casler, Rotary Club of Little Falls
Jason Ceresoli, Rotary Club of Chittenango
Morgan Charde, Rotary Club of Chittenango
Alex Chiang, Rotary Club of Fayetteville-Manlius
Dan Christmas, Rotary Club of Camden
Hannah Corbett, Rotary Club of Little Falls
Blake Curtis, Rotary Club of Canastota
Alicia Daddario, Rotary Club of Baldwinsville
Anyan Davis, Rotary Club of Syracuse Inner City
Homer Davis, Rotary Club of Syracuse Inner City
Jo Douglas, Rotary Club of Little Falls
Jackie Frank, Rotary Club of Sherrill
Emily Gascon, Rotary Club of Marcellus
Sarah Gosek, Rotary Club of Oswego & Oswego Sunrise
Sarah Hafler, Rotary Club of Tully
Peter Hanley, Rotary Club of West Winfield
Haviland Hawkins, Rotary Club of DeWitt
Lindsey Hogel,Rotary Club of Sauquoit
Dave Johnson, Rotary Club of Fulton
Taylor Kacur, Rotary Club of Cato
Brandon Kasprzyk, Rotary Club of Kuyahoora Valley
Hannah Levey, Rotary Club of Dolgeville
Cassie Lightaul, Rotary Club of Oriskany Falls
Kaytlynn Lynch, Rotary Club of Oneida
Claire Motyl, Rotary Club of Skaneateles
Tracy O'Hern, Rotary Club of Canastota
Aleks Osborne, Rotary Club of Chittenango
Josh Peavey, Rotary Club of Oriskany Falls
Rose Portner, Rotary Club of Rome
David (R-K) Rapp-Kirshner, Rotary Club of DeWitt
Abby Rathgeb, Rotary Club of Skaneateles Sunrise
Sara Smith, Rotary Club of Kuyahoora Valley
Johanna Sulesky, Rotary Club of Baldwinsville
Emma VanVoorhis, Rotary Club of Hamilton
Kate Wawro, Rotary Club of Camillus
David White, Rotary Club of Chittenango
Zach Wiley, Rotary Club of Marcellus
Alexis Wilson, Rotary Club of DeWitt
Aaron Yallowitz, Rotary Club of Little Falls



July 2009 - The District 7150 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)


RYLA Chair Larry Richardson at the wrapup luncheon w/DG Fred Cholet


Above, Right, and Below: the weekend activities take place


July 9-11, 2010 ( RYLA Seminar - to be held once again at Cazenovia College - Register! (form at top of page)

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Class of 2009


Ashley Barnes
Mohawk
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Little Falls

Lauren Bendall
Rome
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Rome

Zach Boswell
Chittenango
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Chittenango

Matthew Burke
Utica
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Utica

Danielle Burns
Blossvale
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Camden

Manny Cominsky
Utica
sponsored by the Rotary Club of North Utica-Whitestown

Daryl Day
Chittenango
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Chittenango

Jerri Dishaw
Fulton
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fulton

Jenna Doherty
Fulton
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fulton Sunrise

Danielle Ely
Oneida
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oneida

Corinne Fergason
Ilion
sponsored by the Rotary Club of West Winfield

Allie Forth
Canastota
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Canastota

Matt Gargan
Madison
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oriskany Falls

Richard Harris
Little Falls
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Little Falls

Adam Hauck
Poland
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kuyahoora Valley

Kelsey Hogel
Sauquoit
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sauquoit

Eric Janovsky
Fayetteville
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cazenovia

Packy Jones
Skaneateles
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Skaneateles Sunrise

MacKenzie Kelly
Fayetteville
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fayetteville-Manlius

Holly Lawrence
Little Falls
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Little Falls

Dan Lemp
Skaneateles
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Skaneateles

Tyler Miller
Moravia
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Moravia

Claudia Montesdeoca
Syracuse
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Eastwood

Jocelyn Nowak
Chittenango
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Chittenango

Erin O'Hern
Canastota
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Canastota

Caitlyn Parody
Sherrill
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oneida

Emma Plucinik
Baldwinsville
sponsored by Rotary Club of Baldwinsville

Nicole Reese
Syracuse
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Eastwood

Dan Rudy
Syracuse
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Marcellus

Nyima Sarr
Brewerton
sponsored by the Rotary Club of DeWitt

Keith Shields
Marcellus
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Marcellus

Erik Sipfle
Tully
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Tully

Niko Wagner
Marcellus
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Marcellus

Gemma Wallace
Hamilton
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hamilton




July 2008 - The District 7150 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) team


July 2008 - The District 7150 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) session a success once again!


Chair Larry Richardson greets the students; Right: Immediate Past District Governor Brown welcomes them * DG Marlene's speech

Right: the RYLA committee at the welcoming session

Above, Right, and Below: the weekend activities take place

Above: DG Larry at the wrapup banquet w/Chair Larry


July 11-13th RYLA Seminar - 38 of the best and brightest teenagers from across Central New York graduated July 11 from District 7150's Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Seminar, held at Cazenovia College. They were selected by Rotary clubs across the district to attend.
The teens received instruction on leadership, time management, teamwork, decision-making, ethics and communication skills. The event culminated with a recognition banquet, at which District Governor Larry Calabrese, the keynote speaker, challenged the teenagers to "walk the talk". More than 140 attended the banquet.

The RYLA Class of 2008

Ashley Baye
Whitesboro
sponsored by Rotary Club of North Utica-Whitestown

Gretchen Blanding
Chittenango
sponsored by Rotary Club of Chittenango

Erin Bojanek
Rome
sponsored by Rotary Club of Rome

Alivia Caldwell
Marcellus
sponsored by Rotary Club of Marcellus

Casie Carpenter
Earlville
sponsored by Rotary Club of Hamilton

Dan Collins
Canastota
sponsored by Rotary Club of Oneida

Anh Dang
Syracuse
sponsored by Rotary Club of Syracuse Inner City

Samantha Drake
New Hartford
sponsored by Rotary Club of Sauquoit

Alex Fedrizzi
Baldwinsville
sponsored by Rotary Club of Baldwinsville

Sophie Friedman
Fayetteville
sponsored by Rotary Club of Fayetteville-Manlius

Amanda Getty
Canastota
sponsored by Rotary Club of Canastota

Tim Goldman
Fayetteville
sponsored by Rotary Club of DeWitt

Drew Gorinshek
Little Falls
sponsored by Rotary Club of Little Falls

Joe Hafler
Tully
sponsored by Rotary Club of Tully

Kayla Holmes
Lee Center
sponsored by Rotary Club of Rome

Millie Jimenez
Syracuse
sponsored by Rotary Club of Syracuse Sunrise

Mike Kardjian
Jamesville
sponsored by Rotary Club of DeWitt

Liz Keevil
Tully
sponsored by Rotary Club of Tully

Amber King
Oneida
sponsored by Rotary Club of Oneida

James Larkin
Oswego
sponsored by Rotary Club of Fulton

Andrew Masterleo
Fayetteville
sponsored by Rotary Club of DeWitt


Meghan McCann
Fulton
sponsored by Rotary Club of Fulton Sunrise

Maggie McCloskey
Oswego
sponsored by Rotary Club of Oswego

Max McMahon
Cold Brook
sponsored by Rotary Club of Kuyahoora Valley

Tess Piraino
Chittenango
sponsored by Rotary Club of Chittenango

Hannah Richard
Cazenovia
sponsored by Rotary Club of Cazenovia

Graham Rogers
Little Falls
sponsored by Rotary Club of Little Falls

Dave Rubin
Tully
sponsored by Rotary Club of Tully

Gino Ruggio
Oswego
sponsored by Rotary Club of Oswego Sunrise

Jessica Ryerson
Moravia
sponsored by Rotary Club of Moravia

Victoria Sakal
Skaneateles
sponsored by Rotary Club of Skaneateles Sunrise

Carl Stanbro
Chittenango
sponsored by Rotary Club of DeWitt

Jon Stevens
Chittenango
sponsored by Rotary Club of Chittenango

Kat Strebel
Blossvale
sponsored by Rotary Club of Camden

Krista Stubba
Poland
sponsored by Rotary Club of Kuyahoora Valley

Kyle Suba
Waterville
sponsored by Rotary Club of Waterville

Bea Walton
Skaneateles
sponsored by Rotary Club of Skaneateles

Leandra Zaklukiewicz
Little Falls
sponsored by Rotary Club of Little Falls

.


July 2007 D7150 RYLA Seminar
with District Governor Marlene Brown, Chair Larry Richardson, PDG's Herb Jerry & Ned Mann & Rylarians!

The 2008 RYLA Seminar will be held on July 11-13 at Cazenovia College.

The 2007-08 Committee is as follows:
Larry Richardson: Chair - Rotary Club of Chittenango
Herb Jerry:
Co-Chair - Rotary Club of Eastwood
Aftin Rushak-Lamson - Rotary Club of Moravia
Phyllis Danks - Rotary Club of Marcellus
Deb Glisson - Rotary Club of Marcellus
Joan Austin
- Rotary Club of Tully
Barbara Devendorf - Rotary Club of Chittenango
Cassandra Lawson - Rotary Club of Fulton
Tammy Farrell - Rotary Club of Marcellus
Michele Mulloy - Rotary Club of Sauquoit
Ron Ramsden - Rotary Club of Marcellus
Patti Langley - Rotary Club of Skaneateles
Mike Vespi - Rotary Club of Fayetteville-Manlius

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July 2006 D7150 RYLA Seminar

Students and Sponsors: Kevin Alexander, Utica, sponsored by Rotary Club of Utica; Andrew Armstrong, Verona, sponsored by Rotary Club of Rome; Karina Belyea, Chittenango, sponsored by Rotary Club of Chittenango; Jeff Benesch, Deerfield, sponsored by Rotary Club of Kuyahoora Valley; Cate Callisto, Syracuse, sponsored by Rotary Club of Solvay-Geddes; Ari DeLoach, Utica, sponsored by Rotary Club of Greater Utica Sunrise; Bethann Deshaies, Chittenango, sponsored by Rotary Club of Chittenango ; Andrea Forward, Eaton, sponsored by Rotary Club of Morrisville; Megen Foster, Moravia, sponsored by Rotary Club of Moravia; Lindsay Fowler, Tully, sponsored by Rotary Club of Tully; Danielle Griggs, Canastota, sponsored by Rotary Club of Canastota; Rebecca Hensley, Middleville, sponsored by Rotary Club of Kuyahoora Valley; Derek Jorden, Syracuse, sponsored by Rotary Club of Syracuse; Greg LaCoppola, Little Falls, sponsored by Rotary Club of Little Falls; Justine LeVea, Fulton, sponsored by Rotary Club of Fulton; Kelsey McConnaghy, Skaneateles, sponsored by Rotary Club of Skaneateles; Miranda McNamara, Bridgewater, sponsored by Rotary Club of West Winfield; Andrew Middleton, Skaneateles, sponsored by Rotary Club of Skaneateles Sunrise; Lena Pollard, Utica, sponsored by Rotary Club of Rome; Anna Romano, Jamesville, sponsored by Rotary Club of DeWitt; Caitlin Schickel, Ithaca, sponsored by Rotary Club of Ithaca; Rachel Schwartz, Camden, sponsored by Rotary Club of Camden; Robbie Smiley, Phoenix, sponsored by Rotary Club of Baldwinsville; Becky Tibbitts, Clayville, sponsored by Rotary Club of Sauquoit; Dan Truong, Fulton, sponsored by Rotary Club of Fulton Sunrise; Katie Wratten, Hubbardsville, sponsored by Rotary Club of Oriskany Falls

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July 2005 D7150 Camp RYLA

8-10 July 2005: D7150 RYLA Chair Larry Richardson reports that 28 outstanding high school student leaders from District 7150 had an opportunity to hone their leadership skills, interface with community leaders and make friends with their counterparts from other schools in a two and a half day seminar at Cazenovia College culminated by a banquet. Attended by their parents, Cazenovia Rotary Club, community leaders, 7150 DG Jerry and RYLA staff.

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Receiving certificates from 2002 D7150 Camp RYLA
View additional camp pictures

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ABOUT RYLA

RYLA's Purpose: to challenge the ideals of young people from the age of 15 to 18 years. Selected by your local Rotary Club in District 7150 to receive the award, young people are entitled to attend a three day seminar held at Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica NY aimed at developing further their personal and leadership skills.

The Cost: Investment for a RYLA seminar is kept to a minimum because the guest speakers volunteer their time. Seminars of this quality would normally cost many thousands of dollars to attend but the cost of RYLA is kept down to only $275 per awardee. Usually all food, accommodation and seminar costs are paid for by the sponsoring Rotary Club but occasionally, a Rotary club may ask an awardee to contribute to the cost to enable that club to sponsor multiple awardees and remain within their budget. Talk with your local Rotary Club or your District RYLA committee about this. Any personal expenses are to be covered by the awardee, but the real cost to you is your time and participation.

Who Is Eligible: Young people, male and female, between the ages of 15 and 18 years are eligible to be nominated for RYLA. We prefer that these young adults already have exhibited strong personal or leadership qualities or at least the potential to become leaders in school clubs, community activities or in an early work situation.

How to Apply: The selection process is conducted by your local Rotary Club and involves submitting an application form (available directly from the club or from your District's RYLA committee) and attending an interview. You can also download the application from this website.

More Information: Download 7150 RYLA Application. E-mail your District RYLA committee or contact your local Rotary Club, at D7150 Club Listings.

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Rotary Youth Leadership Award seminar

Each Rotary club is encouraged to nominate at least one high school student to attend RYLA. The leadership seminar will be held July 9-11 at Cazenovia College. It is ideally geared to teenagers who are currently in their junior orsophomore years and who display leadership potential and a willingness to serve others. In special cases, freshmen will be considered. Don't nominate seniors, since they won't be able to return to their schools the following school year to apply what they learn at RYLA.

The sponsoring Rotary club will pay the cost for each teen it sponsors. The exact cost has not yet been finalized, but the committee estimates it will be less than $250 per teen. A recommended way to screen for eligible teens is through your local high school's guidance director and/or National Honor Society adviser. It's not simply the A+ student you're looking for, but rather the one involved in activities. The RYLA seminar will be limited to 40 teens, both boys and girls.

The committee will fill the class by selecting from the club nominations on a first come, first served basis. A nomination form will soon be put onto the district's Web page, www.rotarydistrict7150.org Ideally, your club's community service chair will select one of your Rotarians to chair this project and you can budget the money needed to sponsor one or more teens.

A deadline for submitting an application will be May 2. To ensure your club nominates the best candidate(s) possible, however, start the school contacts as soon as possible. It's easy to do with school officials' help. Students who attend RYLA will stay in dormitories, attend sessions and eat meals at Cazenovia College. More information on RYLA will follow, including at mid-winter conference, at PETS, in CREDO, on the district Web site and through your assistant governors. Thank you for your early action. Respectfully submitted, LARRY RICHARDSON

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Rotary Youth Leadership Award Applicants Sought

There are only 30 openings, so applications for high school students between 15 and 18 years old who are interested in applying for a Rotary International District 7150 RYLA Seminar are available.

Curriculum – Rotary District 7150

Officially adopted by Rotary International in 1971, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service. Each year, thousands of young people take part in the program worldwide. The impact spreads further as the program influences other young people.

RYLA is an intensive training program for community youth leaders. Young people chosen for their leadership potential attend an all-expenses-paid three day seminar to discuss leadership skills and to learn those skills through practice.

RYLA's Core Curriculum

Every RYLA includes the following topics:

  • Fundamentals of leadership
  • Ethics of positive leadership
  • Importance of communication skills in effective leadership
  • Problem-solving and conflict management
  • Rotary's purpose and service to the community
  • Building self confidence and self-esteem
  • Elements of community and global citizenship

RYLA Seminars: Awardees attending the RYLA seminars can expect to further develop their personal and leadership skills in the following key areas:

Communication Skills: Participants will have the opportunity to: - develop interpersonal skills - communicate, listen and write more effectively - engage in some form of public speaking in a warm, supportive environment
Personal Qualities: Participants will have the opportunities to: - identify the various types of personality - help people to get along with each other - manage their own time more effectively - avoid stressful situations - plan for healthier living
Leadership: Participants will have the opportunity to: - identify the characteristics of effective leaders - become aware of the various styles of leadership - observe effective leaders operating in a meeting situation
Problem Solving Strategies: Participants will have the opportunity to: - brainstorm and think creatively - engage in practical problem -solving and decision -making activities - use a problem solving model in a practical situation

About RYLA Seminars:
During this intensive three day seminar, keynote speakers from various professions and industries take time out from their normal duties to address the participants on issues which are particularly relevant to the development of strong personal and leadership qualities. Typical issues covered are: - the growth and development of self esteem - personal development - stress and self management - personal motivation - non verbal communication - time management and goal setting - leadership styles. These and other issues are covered in lectures, workshops, small and large group discussions as well as the utilization of films and video tapes as learning aids. There is also 'time out" for team recreational activities and time to get to know other awardees. Attendees also have the opportunity to participate in a "ropes course" to learn team building and trust recognition skills. As one of last year's awardees stated "It was an experience of a life time, and a opportunity not to be missed.' The whole seminar is ably co-ordinated and organized by an active committee comprising a number of Rotarians plus faculty and staff from Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC).

For More Information:

Contact a Rotary Club near you, e-mail the District 7150 RYLA Facilitator or a member of the District 7150 RYLA Committee whose addresses are found on the RYLA Committee listing. The RI RYLA Committee also assists Rotarians in carrying out RYLA programs. If you want to apply, download the RYLA Application from this site, complete it and take it to a District 7150 Rotary Club in your area.

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Criteria for RYLA Candidates

This program requires self-awareness, previously exhibited leadership qualities, and the ability to communicate effectively.

Required Criteria:

  • Age: high school students between the ages of 15-18 years.
  • Academic Level: Candidates are in high school. 10th,11th,12th grade
  • Drugs: Not been or currently be involved in drugs
  • Medical: Not have any medical, mental or physical conditions that would preclude their active participation in all activities of the program
  • Leadership Activities: (Identify items appropriate to your area from list)
  • Availability: Be available for the full duration of the seminar including residence on campus and attendance at the graduation luncheon.

Suggested Leadership Activities:

  • Hold leadership positions in high school student governments, clubs, or athletic teams.
  • Significant project involvement: ie. school class project, Junior Achievement, Science Fair, school play, etc.
  • In 4-H, FFA, Scouting, Church and/or other community leadership roles
  • Leader of Interact Club
  • Previously a Rotary Exchange Student participant
  • School or community sports involvement
  • Volunteer worker in community organizations or programs.

Awards: Recognized by school, organizations and / or community for outstanding scholastic, athletic, and other exemplary achievements.

Potential: To become a Community Leader and Supporter.



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2002 D7150 RYLA Pictures

2001 D7150 RYLA Pictures


View Rotary International's RYLA website

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This page was last updated:

This web site was designed and is maintained by Marlene B. Brown, DG 2007-08
District 7150 Webmeister, President Rotary eClub NY1, Centennial Chair
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