RYLA - Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
Higher EducationIllinois, United States51-200 Employees
RYLA, or Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, is a Rotary program within the higher education space that focuses on leadership development, citizenship, and personal growth for young people. The initiative targets youths roughly aged 14 to 30, with clubs and districts often narrowing the focus to subgroups such as 14–18 or 19–30, and aims to provide effective training, encourage leadership among youth, and publicly recognize service to communities. Based in Evanston, Illinois, the organization operates as part of Rotary International, serving a global network through its youth leadership seminars and related activities. While the program emphasizes Rotary’s regard for youth and the development of young leaders, it is presented as a structured, youth-led leadership training experience rather than a typical higher education course. A recent development noted in the public news cycle highlights Rotary International’s ongoing activities and partnerships, reflecting the broader organizational context in which RYLA operates.