Rotary Youth Participate in Leadership Awards Conference in September
October 2019
Dayton, TN -- The Dayton, TN. Rotary Club sponsored five outstanding Rhea County High School Junior class students to participate in the annual September RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) Conference at Camp Nakanawa in Crossville, TN. The RYLA program is designed to demonstrate Rotary’s respect, commitment, and concern for our youth, and to provide an effective training experience for selected young and potential leaders. The RCHS students joining 180 other Eastern Tennessee high school Juniors this year were McKaylee Willis, Halleigh Phelps, Noelle Clark, Jacob Reed, and Autumn Wilson. These students participated in physical, mental, decision-making, and team building activities which enhance confidence, personal growth, citizenship, and character.
RYLA is a worldwide element of Rotary International’s Youth Services and the primary leadership training program for high school Juniors. RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth in a one-day, hands-on, leadership skills development program available to distinguished high school Juniors with demonstrated leadership qualities. RYLA leadership enhancement activities include noted inspirational speakers and leadership skills development exercises lead by ADVENTUREWORKS, a Nashville based nationally recognized leader in experience-based training and development since 1987. These enlightening and fun adventures include the climbing wall, giant tree swing, aerial zip line, and a variety of team building and problem solving activities throughout a Saturday. While all our RCHS students excelled during the conference, McKaylee Willis was specifically recognized as “Outstanding Group Leader” from among 180 participating students for demonstrating team-building skills, activity leadership, cooperation, decision making, and positive attitude traits.
“I’ve chaperoned many RYLA events with our Rhea County High School students and it’s always exciting to see their enthusiasm and active participation during the day”, commented Dallas Smith, Dayton Rotary Club Chairman for Youth Services and RYLA programs, “and I’m delighted that Dayton Rotarians are able to offer this program annually over past years to many youth leaders.”
The Rotary Club of Dayton, TN. was founded in 1953, as a community humanitarian service organization comprising a membership of government, business, professional and area leaders. Annual fundraisers include a Golf Tournament, TN. Strawberry Festival Pancake Breakfast and Daddy-Daughter Dance to generate funds for sponsorship of vocational, educational, local community and international service programs. The Rotary Club of Dayton, TN., is a distinguished chapter of Rotary International, founded in 1905 as the world’s first volunteer service organization, and now includes more than 1.2 million members of 35,000 Clubs in 171 countries worldwide with a mission to improve people’s lives locally and globally through service projects.