RYLA Program 2017

Gary Crissman, RYLA Coordinator for Rotary District  7390, spoke to York East Rotarians at their weekly breakfast meeting on  January 3, 2017 about RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards).  RYLA  is an annual leadership training program sponsored by each rotary district for young men and women between their junior and senior year of high school.  Participants in our district, 7390, are chosen for their leadership potential and attend an expense-free week of activities at Messiah College.  Students experience college life staying in the dorms and attending lectures by various speakers, career seminars, participating in a challenge course and team building activities,  and performing in a conference band and chorus and more.   Students learn fundamentals of leadership, ethics of positive leadership, problem solving and conflict management, how to build self-confidence and self-esteem., Rotary’s purpose and service to the community.  Student participants design the RYLA t-shirt to be worn by the next year’s group of RYLA students. Aaron Backs, a student alumnus from the RYLA program and son of York East  Rotarian Michael Backs, shared highlights of his experience with RYLA.  York East Rotarians were encouraged to send young people to this year’s  RYLA conference  June 11 – 14, 2017. 

 

Photo:  left to right,  Greg Kern, President York East Rotary, Aaron Backs, student alumnus, and Gary Crissman, RYLA coordinator district 7390.