Investing in Youth. Strengthening Communities.
Each year, Rotary Clubs across District 5580 award scholarships to outstanding high school students to attend RYLA — a weeklong leadership development program held at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Through this experience, students explore their leadership potential, gain new skills, build lifelong friendships, and return home inspired to lead with integrity, empathy, and confidence.
Rotary’s support makes this possible. Your club plays a vital role.
What is RYLA?
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is a Rotary International program that fosters leadership, citizenship, and personal growth in young people. Our district’s version of RYLA is tailored to high school students and combines workshops centered around the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, team challenges, service learning, and camp traditions into a high-energy, high-impact week.
RYLA isn’t just about teaching leadership — it’s about giving students the space and tools to discover it in themselves.
Sponsoring RYLA Students: A Step-by-Step Guide
Confirm: Set your goals and determine the number of students your club will support and submit payment.
Promote: Connect with your community to share what RYLA is and encourage eligible students to apply. Remember: you are recruiting current juniors and sophomores.
Select: Students apply online and receive a PDF copy of their application. Use your club’s process to select scholarship recipients. Then notify the RYLA Team and the students and their families.
Plan: Arrange transportation to and from camp with your selected students and their families.
Connect: Welcome students back after camp and invite them to share about their experience at your club!
Why it Matters
RYLA offers students more than just a camp. It gives them a foundation for the rest of their lives. Many campers report that RYLA was a turning point: the moment they first saw themselves as leaders, connected with like-minded peers, and understood the power of service above self.
For Rotary Clubs, RYLA is an opportunity to:
- Build meaningful connections with young people in your community
- Promote Rotary values among the next generation
- Encourage current and future Interactors, and develop the next generation of Rotaractors and Rotarians
- Strengthen your club’s service portfolio with a proven, impactful program
What’s Next
Explore the pages in the Rotary section to find tools, timelines, and answers to your club’s questions:
- Club Liaison Resources — For the team leading RYLA in your club
- Payment Information — Scholarship fee instructions and deadlines
Thank you for being part of RYLA. Your commitment to youth leadership is helping shape stronger communities and a stronger future.