Each year Suffield Rotary Club invites Suffield High School sophomores to apply for the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). This year our club and town were represented at the event by Reagan Bennett, Anna-Maria Nastase and Jack Ryan. Rotary District 7890 includes clubs from across Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.
Suffield Rotary RYLA students Reagan Bennett, Jack Ryan and Anna-Maria Nastase.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is a program for young persons that was officially adopted by Rotary International in 1971. Conducted at the 7890’s District level, RYLA offers our local clubs a special opportunity to take part in developing the leadership qualities and good citizenship among our young adults.
The Suffield Rotary club’s sponsored sophomores arrived at Springfield College on May 31, 2025. After registration and a briefing of the day’s events, the large group of students were divided into smaller groups and they began the program. Their leadership qualities were noted by their instructors and the RYLA Committee throughout the day. A motivational speaker, a Rotary roundtable and seminar focusing on the advantages of group efforts in accomplishing tasks are also part of the leadership training.
A selection process took place whereby all students involved selected students who best display leadership characteristics within each group. Several of whom will attend the World Affairs Seminar at Carroll University, Wisconsin in June of the following year. Alternates are chosen to replace those who cannot attend. The RYLA program of Rotary District 7890 pays for transportation, meals and admission to this week-long event where students from all over the world gather to discuss global affairs.
Our District can be proud of its RYLA Program because it achieves all these objectives:
- To demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for youth.
- To encourage and assist young adults in methods of effective leadership by providing them with training experience.
- To publicly recognize the high qualities of many young adults who are serving their communities as youth leaders
After the students return from RYLA they will join us at one of our upcoming Suffield Rotary meetings and share their experiences and the impact it has had as they grow in leadership and service. Please join us in congratulating Reagan, Jack and Anna-Maria on this achievement.
