RYLA 2016 – District 5010

Posted by Reba Parris Beckett 
on May 17, 2016
 
Fairbanks, Alaska (April 14th – 17th, 2016)
 
Rotary International believes in our youth; we have an obligation to nurture and enrich their growth. Rotary helps to support this objective through providing opportunities for youth leadership training and development. The purpose of RYLA is to help shape, grow and reward the youth leaders within our communities.
 
This year’s RYLA – Rotary Youth Leadership Awards – hosted by District 5010 for Alaska/Yukon in picturesque Fairbanks, facilitated such an opportunity!  Some main goals over the course of a RYLA conference are:
  • To encourage and assist our youth in responsible and effective voluntary leadership by providing them with a valuable training experience,
  • To foster continued and stronger leadership of youth by youth, and
  • To publicly recognize the many young people who are rendering service to their communities as youth leaders.
Students aged 15-18 from all over Alaska (Fairbanks, Juneau, Anchorage, Homer, Nome, Barrow, Wasilla, Seward, North Pole, Bethel and Palmer) and Yukon (Whitehorse), participated in a variety of exercises and activities that focused on the development of their leadership skills, ability to participate in and lead team-building exercises and personal reflection. Over 4 days, participants met and engaged with their peers, mentor Rotarians and were inspired by keynote speaker, RC Woodson. They learned new skills, helped to develop existing ones and revelled in youth leadership camaraderie.
The Whitehorse Rendezvous Rotary and Whitehorse Rotary clubs, along with a contribution from our district, were pleased to sponsor the attendance of 3 students representing the Yukon at the District 5010 RYLA 2016. We wish to congratulate Emily Mathews (Vanier), Nathan Muir-Cressman (FH Collins) and Grace-Anne Janssen (FH Collins) for accepting this opportunity and for representing themselves, our territory and our country, in the highest standard.  
If you wish to learn more of our students’ experience at RYLA 2016, please join us for their presentation on Tuesday June 7th.

Do you know of any youth (aged 15-18) in our community who would benefit from the RYLA program?  Please connect with Reba for more information!