Each year, the San Marcos Rotary Club sponsors students to attend the District 5340 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), a program that honors and encourages outstanding 11th grade students for their leadership and service. Every April, around 200 young leaders enjoy an all-expenses-paid weekend in Idyllwild. There, they are inspired by a diverse array of exceptional speakers, engage in leadership-building activities, form lasting friendships, and discuss the ethical and social issues impacting leadership today. These students return to their schools and communities energized to continue their leadership journeys with new perspectives on themselves and the world.
This year, the San Marcos Rotary Club sponsored a record eight students from San Marcos and Mission Hills High Schools, with other local clubs sponsoring three more students from these schools.
One of the most rewarding moments for Rotarians is the RYLA Banquet, where these students, along with their parents and school representatives, share their experiences and the positive impacts the conference has had on their lives. Listening to these students, many of whom describe the event as life-changing, is always a heartwarming experience.
 
See the 2024 RYLA Photo Album for pictures of the inspiring event.