2026 Spring RYLA
Sat. April 11 8am - 6pm
* Application due date: Friday, April 3rd, 2026
* Location: Newtown Community Center
* Sponsorship Club or Sponsor payment due date: Saturday, April 4, 2026
Click to Register
What is RYLA?
The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is District 7980’s leadership training program for young men and women in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors). These talented youth from area high schools are supported by their local Rotary clubs, families, schools, or civic organizations to attend an action-packed one-day conference. Their activities are designed to increase their leadership skills and commitment to community service, while creating positive change locally and internationally.
RYLA is held twice a year, in the fall and spring. RYLA is an internationally recognized program attended by over 9,000 young adults each year, sponsored by Rotary Clubs in more than 25 countries. Dedicated Rotarians, student facilitators, and selected specialists make up the RYLA team.
Calling all 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders who are
-
Ready to level up their leadership skills
-
Passionate about personal growth
-
Eager to create positive change in their communities
-
Excited to challenge themselves
-
Interested in strengthening communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution abilities.
Rotary’s motto – “Service Above Self”
Candidate Criteria
High school students who:
-
Demonstrate leadership in school or community organizations.
-
Make moral decisions, distinguish right from wrong.
-
Display the willingness to be an active member of a group.
-
Promote curiosity about current events: local, state, national and international.
Encourage speaking and listening to others in front of an audience.
2026 4-Way
Speech Contest
SEMI-FINAL DATES:
Area 1–6: March 14, 9:30 am - 1 pm
March 11, Deadline
River Valley Senior Living
101 Oakview Dr, Trumbull (registration due date 3/11)
Area 7–12: March 21, 10:15 am - 12 pm
March 17, Deadline
Norwich Free Academy, Sydney Frank Hall
305 Broadway, Norwich (registration due date 3/17)I
The District Finals
April 25 at 9:30 am - 11 am
Stratford High School
245 King Street
Stratford, CT
WHY PARTICIPATE IN THE ROTARY 4-WAY SPEECH CONTEST?
The 4-Way Test Speech Contest is one of Rotary’s most meaningful
youth programs because it challenges students to think deeply about
ethics, leadership, and the impact of their choices.
Participants gain:
• Confidence in public speaking
• Stronger critical thinking and communication skills
• Experience presenting ideas to community leaders
• Recognition for their hard work and insight
• A powerful addition to college and scholarship applications
Most importantly, the contest gives young people a platform to explore how the 4-Way Test can guide real-world decision-making. Every year, students tell us how transformative the experience was — how it helped them find their voice, refine their values, and feel seen and supported by their community.
On Saturday, November 15th, two Ledyard High School students, Felipe Echavaria and Jamie Drummond, participated in the Rotary of Southern CT’s RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) program. RYLA aims to:
-
Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders;
-
Encourage leadership of youth by youth;
-
Encourage youth to make a difference in their communities through volunteer work and social responsibility; and
-
Demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for youth.
Together with 50 other high schoolers from across the state, they gathered at Connecticut College for an intense one-day event where they participated in a day of interactive leadership development. As part of the program, they formed small groups to initially plan community service projects. The Rotary Club of Ledyard who sponsored them will help them to finish the planning and implementation of this impactful service.
