To: High School Principals, Teachers and Counselors s1

www.IowaRYLA.org

To: High School Principals, Teachers and Counselors Re: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)

It is time to recruit and select outstanding students for RYLA, one of Rotary’s best programs for youth!

What is RYLA? RYLA stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. Rotary is sponsoring this 6-day leadership conference for current high school sophomores, juniors and seniors called RYLA. The objectives of RYLA are:

• To provide an atmosphere where future leaders experience democratic living, and which will aid them in developing sound values. • To promote an environment that will provide each individual with the basis of insight and understanding for intelligent leadership. • To expose youth leaders to some opportunities and challenges of life in a free democratic, society. • To promote involvement that encourages the participants to think through and arbitrate conflicts in values.

These objectives are accomplished through a 6-day program that emphasizes values like personal responsibility, service and integrity and develops skills like goal-setting, decision-making, teamwork and interpersonal skills. The program is very action-oriented and includes activities like guest speakers, the RYLA Olympics, team building activities, skits and group discussions on issues appropriate to this age group. The students stay in a college campus environment and are supervised by adult Rotarians.

When and where is it? The conference will be held at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. Registration begins at 1:30 pm and the conference begins at 3:00 pm, Sunday, July 16, 2017 and concludes at noon on Friday, July 21, 2017.

Who is eligible? • Any student currently a sophomore and junior (classes of 2019 and 2018, respectively). • The ideal candidate for RYLA has either demonstrated leadership ability in school, church or community activities or is a responsible and enthusiastic follower and has leadership potential. • A young person who is honest, responsible and shows the ability to make good decisions. • A young person who is recommended by a teacher, counselor or Rotarian.

What does it cost? A local Rotary Club pays the conference fee of $450 as an award for excellence.

How can students apply? The student completes an online application at www.IowaRYLA.org with their parent’s acknowledgement. They will then be interviewed for possible selection by the local Rotary club. They MUST contact a local Rotary club to ensure they are scheduled for an interview! Each Rotary club interviews and selects the winning students by May 15. Every Rotary club establishes its own schedule prior to May 15, so contact them early to be sure you fit into their schedule.

For more information, please read everything on the home page and on the “About RYLA” page at www.IowaRYLA.org, and contact your local Rotary Club via the “Rotary Contacts” page on the web site. You can also contact the RYLA Registrar, [email protected] with any questions you may have.