11 local students sponsored for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)     

Rotary Club of Jasper sponsored 11 area youth to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) that was held from Friday, October 26 to Sunday, October 28.

Those students were Jacob Patterson, Breanna Coultas, Brooklyn Coultas, Caden Leistner, Grace Truesdale, all of Jasper; Adrianne Betz, Amber Sander and Nikita Fischers, all of Dubois; Cheyenne Maettler and Paige Kendall, both of Huntingburg; and Mady Partenheimer of Ferdinand.

The three-day event was held at Bradford Woods, owned and operated by Indiana University and located in rural Morgan County, to take full advantage of the beautiful wooded setting.

Under the guidance of trained facilitators at Bradford Woods, RYLA participants gain valuable leadership skill through a variety of adventurous “learn by doing” opportunities.

“RYLA was absolutely amazing.  It’s such a unique experience and I’m so grateful you guys gave me the opportunity to go,” said Cheyenne Maittler.  I learned all kinds of leadership skills and met so many new people. Thank you so much.”

Participants sleep in modern cabins and spend most of their day in the outdoor setting. Daily activities are part of the program, some inches from the group and others a bit more daring. All require participants to take risk, give 100 percent, and show support of their team members.

Objectives include growth in self-confidence, positive group behaviors and interactions, development of leadership skills, and a range of new, life-long friendships. Recognizing and encouraging the variety of capabilities and attributes of these young future leaders, rendering service to communities with service above self, for those who have great potential for future leadership.

A cost of $200 per student was provided by the Jasper Rotary Club and other sponsors including Darren Patterson, Laura & Paul Grammar, SVB&T and People Ready.

Jasper Rotary Club Member’s New Generations chair Kayla Dooley coordinated the logistics for the local RYLA participants and Jasper Rotary Club Member Stu Holland attended the event as a weekend sponsor.

The Rotary Club of Jasper has sponsored students to attend RYLA several prior years.

To learn more about Rotary and the opportunities for New Generations, please contact us on our Facebook page or http://www.jasperrotary.com/.