Thirty Years of #studentleadershipelevated
The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Program had its humble beginnings in Australia in 1959. It was adopted as an official Rotary International youth program in 1971, RYLA found its way to Missouri in the early 1992. There are over 350 RYLA programs worldwide today.
In 2004, under the direction of District Governors of 6040, 6060, and 6080, RYLA moved from a two-district program to encompass the state of Missouri. Modeled after the board of “Show-Me Rotary/PETS,” a board comprising of four members from each district was established, with chairmanship transferring every two years between the districts. A Rotarian was selected to serve as the academy director, as well as a professional educator to serve as the curriculum director. The term “academy” was attached to the name of Missouri RYLA to show that it is a leadership academy, rather than misunderstood as a “camp.” At the time of formation, the board was the only formally recognized tri-district RYLA board in Rotary International.
The academy model from 2004-2015 was held the fourth week of June for four days at William Woods University in Fulton, a location as close to the center of the state as possible. The program had a capacity of one session with 100 student participants and 25 adults serving as staff. Ten professional guidance counselors are employed by the program as well as 10 Rotarian volunteers.
The program has continued to grow and flourish. This success has led to the expansion to hold two sessions a summer, with 100 students in each. Since 2016, the first session is held the last week of June and the second session is held the week following the Fourth of July weekend.
MO RYLA also expanded during COVID, beginning with a move to the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. In 2023, 79 Rotary Clubs sponsored almost 170 students total, extending application opportunities to sophomores, juniors and incoming seniors.
The academy program includes a leadership assessment, a day of a professional team building, and a two-day service project simulation the RYLArians design and develop. The local Rotary clubs are responsible to sponsor as many students as they choose to support. Our message to clubs is to sponsor students who have hearts for service.
The Missouri RYLA Academy is considered a model RYLA program for high school aged students in Rotary International, worldwide. Co-Directors Rich Linden and Valerie Anderson have consulted 36 other RYLA programs around the world including India, California, Argentina, Brazil, Czech Republic, Illinois, Tennessee, California, Washington, Virginia, Oregon, New York, Dominican Republic, Canada, Colorado, Kentucky, New Mexico, Sweden, Louisiana, Ohio, and South Africa.
Missouri RYLA has been featured in the Rotarian “newsletter” and interviewed for the Rotarian Magazine. Directors Rich Linden and Valerie Anderson presented the only RYLA break out session program at the 2019 Rotary International Convention in Hamburg, Germany.
In 2022, Rotary International embedded a lead organizational photographer for two days in the July session to capture the students and program. These images are now the faces representing RYLA marketing across the world.
Check out our article here: Missouri RYLA feature story in the Rotary International Magazine August 2023
The Missouri RYLA Academy has been a collaborating partner with the United States State Department and its Youth Diplomat Institute program, as well as the Peace Corp.