Each year Rotary District 5710 sponsors Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) for a week long summer camp on the campus of Kansas University. High school students are nominated and sponsored by District Rotary Clubs to attend RYLA for the purpose of developing leadership skills and an appreciation for civic engagement. Lawrence Central Rotary Club sponsored two students from Free State High School, sophomore Leah Anderson and senior Koree Shields. Leah and Koree shared their experiences from the June 2-6, 2024 RYLA week. They engaged in small group work on various topics and got to know student participants from Eastern Kansas and Western Missouri. They also worked on service projects like making improvements to area community gardens. Leah and Koree enjoyed the contact with students from other communities and have kept up with new made friends. They also described RYLA as a confidence booster and wished the program could be longer. Club member Leticia Cole was in charge of the club’s RYLA project.
