Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards - or RYLA - is a not-for-profit leadership program coordinated by Rotary Clubs around the globe.  Each year, thousands of young people participate in this program.  High School Freshman – Seniors, who have demonstrated leadership skills or show the potential to be leaders, are sponsored by Rotary Clubs to attend the event run by the club's district committee.

During the 3 Day Conference participants:

• Explore their own style and strengths
• Learn skills that will enable them to be aware of and to address community needs
• Interact with adult role models who are active in their professions and community
• Develop and learn leadership skills
• Have a lot of fun!

Goals of the program are to:

• Learn and incorporate new concepts of leadership and citizenship.
• Have opportunities to express ideas and concepts.
• Feel and give acceptance of and to each other.
• Experience the joy of learning teamwork.
• Become comfortable in expressing opinions in a supportive group environment.
• Meet new friends and learn how to reach out and make new friends without the usual conventions (cliques, etc.).
• Be challenged to “Return to Serve” their community.

Sean Nelson, is the Volunteer RYLA Conference Chairman. Sean has been a Wheaton Noon Rotarian for 20 years and has been the conference Chair for the past 15 years. During that time, the conference has doubled in participation and is nearing capacity. Sean believes that the speakers at the conference are arguably the best that participants might ever have an opportunity to hear at any price! Sean is the Executive Director for Illinois YMCA Youth and Government.

Sean will be joined by some of the students that the LF-LB Rotary Club sponsored to attend RYLA this year to discuss their RYLA experience.

Host: David Belmonte