Next RYLA: April 28 - May 1, 2011

Only 273 days to go!

Download Student Selection Guidelines (.pdf file 192 KB)

Please download the Student Selection Guidelines PDF. It contains sample letters, forms and questionaires you can print out and use during the student selection process.

It is important to identify students we sponsor for RYLA who will truly benefit from the experience and will be leaders on their return to school. Students that are selected to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards should be well prepared for the experience, and be aware of the sponsoring organization.

Policies regarding the eligibility and selection of student participants have evolved over the years.

Student participants should be high school sophomores or juniors, under the age of eighteen at the time of RYLA.

Participants may NOT have attended previous a RYLA.

District 5240 highly recommends that you send your Interact President-Elect to RYLA. This practice has greatly grown and improved our District’s Interact clubs recently. The RYLA program has proven to be a driving force in founding new Interact Clubs. Participation by Non-Interact members, especially in schools without Interact Clubs, will prove beneficial in growing Interact membership.

The RYLA Committee encourages the selection and participation of current and former Youth Exchange Students.

Your club has discretion regarding the students they send. If the students do not meet the suggested criteria, they are still welcome, but please be sure to keep as close to our guidelines as possible. Be sure that the student will not be a distraction to the RYLA staff or other students.

Students must agree to a behavior code and can be sent home for inappropriate behavior. Relatives of Rotarians are permitted to attend RYLA. However, some clubs may not be legally allowed to pay for the tuition from their non-profit accounts. In this case, tuition may be paid by the Rotarian and not their club. Check with your club's treasurer.