The Superior Rotary Club has presented Certificates of Achievement for Outstanding Participation in the Rotary Youth Leadership Award program to Steve Amys, Taylor Kosey, Becca Vaughan, and Karen Van Overmeiren. The four Superior High School students attended the week-long RYLA Leadership Camp held on the University of Minnesota-Crookston last summer and were among more than 300 young leaders selected for the program sponsored Rotary District 5580, which includes northern Wisconsin, northern Minnesota, North Dakota, and Ontario, Canada.
The RYLA program is structured around The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens, a leadership guide written by Stephen Covey, which focuses on establishing goals as an effective strategy for achieving team results.
Well-known speakers, group discussions, and challenging physical activities are included in program. RYLA participants have opportunities to exchange ideas, opinions and plans with talented, energetic people, to learn how to manage and lead community service projects, to discuss effective and appropriate approaches for resolving family, social, and professional conflicts, and to become familiar with Interact, a Rotary sponsored service club for secondary school students, and Rotary International programs and scholarship opportunities.
"All the activities helped us learn more about ourselves and others," Amys said. "We worked in teams, and we had to work together to solve problems and to trust each other."
"Typically, students selected to attend RYLA have completed their sophomore or junior year in high school," said Char Peterson, Superior Rotary Club board member who coordinates youth programs. "Our Rotary Club pays all fees for Superior High School students selected to participate in RYLA."
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Students with a good academic record and involvement in school activities such as athletics, fine arts, and government, as well as non-school-related activities and work experience, are encouraged to apply to attend RYLA.
"It was a great experience, and I encourage other students to attend RYLA," said Karen Van Overmeiren. "We all learned a lot and formed new friendships."
Information is available at www.superiorrotary.org . Click on Links and Resources, then, Rotary Camp RYLA. Information is also available from Senior High School teacher Angela Johnson who serves as the Interact advisor and RYLA liaison.
In addition to the RYLA program, the Superior Rotary Club supports scholarships for Senior High School graduates, the Superior Youth Basketball League, and donates funds to several nonprofit organizations in Superior and Douglas County. The club raises funds through member donations and projects such as the spring pancake breakfast and the annual Dragon Boat Festival held in August.
