LIHU‘E — Rotary International District 5000 Governor Sandy Matsui announced several Rotary Youth Service opportunities that have deadlines rapidly approaching.
These include the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, the Junior Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and the Hawai‘i Rotary Youth Foundation Scholarships.
Designed for high-school students, the Rotary Youth Leadership Award is Rotary’s intensive-leadership-training and development program designed for high-school students and open to all local public, private and home-schooled students.
This year’s RYLA will be held during the weekend of Feb. 11 through 13, virtually, with presenters including Mike Latham, president of Punahou Schools; Connie Lau, former president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries; Lyla Berg, a Rotarian and former member of the state House of Representatives; Nainoa Thompson, president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society; Henry Kapono, philanthropist and entertainer; and Herb Lee, president of Pacific American Foundation and recipient of President Barack Obama’s “Champion of Change Award.”
Registration for RYLA is available at ylahawaii.org/, and due to requests, the deadline for registering has been extended until the camp reaches capacity. The RYLA weekend experience is free to those who are accepted into the program. Costs are covered by Hawai‘i Rotary clubs.
RYLA participants will experience a broad range of activities that encourage them to think about leadership principles and how to apply them in life.
The Junior Rotary Youth Leadership Awards brings together middle-school students from across the state for a two-hour workshop focused on creating connections, providing inspiration and encouraging action.
Junior RYLA is Feb. 19 from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., with keynote presenter Rochelle Whellams inspiring students to take action on the 3 Cs — character, connections and contributions.
During the “Zoom Rooms,” participants in Junior RYLA will be guided by adult Rotary and Rotaract facilitators to meet new friends, make connections and make a difference by applying the principles of Rotary and the 4-Way Test — Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
The deadline for registering is Feb. 10 by visiting rotaryd5000.org/sitepage/junior-ryla. Hawai‘i Rotary clubs cover all participants’ costs.
Participating District 5000 Rotary clubs are awarding $5,000 HRYF scholarships.
Graduating seniors who need scholarships can contact the Rotary Club Youth Foundation by Feb. 1 by visiting hawaiirotaryyouthfoundation.org.
Last year, the district’s Rotary clubs awarded $270,000 in scholarships to bring the total to over $7 million given out over the years.
