Each year the Rotary Club of Parker sends students to Rotary Youth Leadership Award camps. RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is a life-changing leadership training program for young men and women where leadership skills and principles are learned, developed and enhanced in an atmosphere of trust and respect. The purpose of RYLA is to encourage and assist current and potential youth leaders in methods of responsible and effective leadership.

OWEN ASPEY (Young RYLA): Is an 8th grade honor student at Challenge of Excellence Academy and said he learned about compassion – the importance of extending a helping hand to others and he learned about leadership & leadership skills – good leaders listen! Owen also expressed the importance about of working together as a team – many things are impossible to achieve alone. He learned about turst and about the importance of service to others as he saw it modeled by his student counselors and that his experience as YRYLA changed his perspective on how he views things. He said the most important thing he learned was about teamwork as they tackled an exercise where they had to figure out a way to get each team member over a 15-foot wall.

RACHEL THOMPSON (Young RYLA): Rachel who attends Sierra Middle School in Parker said she learned about the importance of good communication among team members and learned the value of constantly asking questions as well as the importance of integrity & trust.

 

ANU NOVAK (Young RYLA): Anu is an 8th grader at American Academy and said she learned the importance of always showing kindness to others and she learned that true leaders need to be able to step down and empower others to lead. She learned how to exercise integrity, honesty and compassion in her everyday activities and will remember the 4-way test when she needs it most. Lastly, she said he learned how to love herself for who she is.

 

FISHER AGOSTINO (RYLA): Fisher is a much accomplished honor student at the STEM School – Highlands Ranch and will be a junior in the fall and is very involved in several clubs, sports & activities. He learned that we cannot do everything in our own power nor should we try to do so – we each need to learn to rely on the help of others and that real leaders do not talk at people but rather with people and the important thing he learned is to always look for the best in other people. Each of the students expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to attend RYLA. At the conclusion of the student presentations, Tom Furmanski explained that the RYLA experience does not consist of lectures but rather involves a very full & busy program focused on various activities & challenging exercises.