Each year, the Suffield Rotary Club extends an invitation to Suffield High School sophomores to apply for the prestigious Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). The program for this year will be held on the last Saturday in May or first Saturday in June, at Springfield University. Applications are available from Mrs. McCluskey or at the Guidance Office at Suffield High School. Students must submit their completed applications NO later than Thursday, April 9 to Mrs. McCluskey. Please note that this deadline is the day before April break begins.
Rotary District 7890 encompasses clubs from across Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. Through the RYLA program, the district provides unique leadership opportunities and fosters personal growth among young adults.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a program for young people that was officially adopted by Rotary International in 1971. At the district level, RYLA enables local clubs to play an active role in developing leadership qualities and citizenship in young adults. The program is designed to accomplish several important objectives:
- Demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for youth.
- Encourage and assist young adults in effective leadership methods by providing them with valuable training experiences.
- Publicly recognize the high qualities of young adults who are serving their communities as youth leaders.
Each year, Suffield Rotary selects two to three students who have applied for the RYLA award. These students may be chosen by their peers at the district RYLA to participate in a week-long Rotary RYLA Leadership Conference with other students from around the world. This conference will take place in June 2027 at Carroll University in Wisconsin, and all expenses are covered by Rotary.
If you are a sophomore student or know someone who is, please encourage them to apply for this exciting opportunity. Past participants from Suffield High School have returned enriched and energized by the program and through collaboration with other participants, often forming lasting relationships.
For more information about the Rotary Youth Leadership Award, please contact Natalie Donais from the Suffield Rotary at: ndonais@snet.net