Twenty-eight years ago, the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference (RYLA) started right here in north central West Virginia. Since then, it has trained nearly 2000 students to be good leaders, citizens and community volunteers for their hometowns.  This year, Bridgeport High School sent five students to attend the conference, who had the opportunity to network with speakers, bond over activities and help alleviate hunger n the world.

 

Christian Olivio, Brent Sinsel, Jake Runner, Jenna Soltez, Amiya Tennant and Joplin Kehrer represented Bridgeport High School at the conference, which included students from all over West Virginia.  The students were chosen by the local Rotary Club for having displayed leadership abilities and recommended by their school counselor, Kristina Robinson.  “This provided a unique opportunity for the freshmen to get involved with programs they can continue for the next four years,” said Robinson. 

 

Attendees were treated to a feature presentation by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar, who attended RYLA when he was in high school.  Cogar is a Rotary Ambassodorial Scholar and was the WVU Mountaineer for two years.  Students were then put into groups for icebreaker activities and a talent show.  Training workshops were integrated throughout the weekend and included topics about leadership, communication, ethics and synergy.  Each presentation was given by a local Rotarian dedicated to educating young people.

 

On Saturday, the students had the opportunity to meet with the Rotary Youth Exchange Students who are currently in our area for a one-year exchange program.  Japan, Germany, France, Belgium and Brazil were represented along with an outbound exchange student who is in Austria.   Attendees then packed over 10,000 meals to be sent overseas to provide hunger relief with the program, Stop Hunger Now. 

 

The RYLA staff chooses four outstanding students to come back next year and act as counselors to inspire the next generation of leaders.  Bridgeport High School freshman, Joplin Kehrer, was chosen as one of the outstanding leaders and is very excited to return and become more involved with the Rotarians.  “We are encouraged to take what we have learned back to our home communities and get more involved, “ said Kehrer. 

 

“The goal of the weekend was to help young people develop their skills and character while exposing them to Rotary’s values of service, ethics and peace and to inspire them to get involved as leaders in their home communities,” said organizer Dennis Shreve.  “Their creativity brings new energy to the organization and allows current Rotarians and students to work together for community projects.”