This year, RYLA will be held from Tuesday, June 16, 2026, to Saturday, June 20, 2026, again on the beautiful campus of Austin Peay State University, in Clarksville, TN. Applications for the 2026 RYLA Program are attached these are due on April 1st . What is RYLA? Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership program for young people ages 15-18. Organized by Rotary District 6760, RYLA allows participants to learn new skills through civic engagement and personal and professional development opportunities. Talented high school students are chosen from among their peers to attend a series of outdoor activities, leadership training events, seminars, etc. each June. The RYLA program enables young people to debate issues of professional responsibility and human relations, improve leadership and communication skills, learn about businesses and institutions, and meet Rotarians while having fun and making friends. For young adults, RYLA provides the opportunity to refine skills and explore pertinent topics with their peers and elders. RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth, and aims to:

  • Demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for youth by developing youth leadership skills and recognizing those who are making a positive difference in their communities
  • Instill a lifelong commitment to service in young people and connect them with ongoing opportunities to serve through Rotary
  • Fulfill Rotary’s commitment to youth service by empowering young people through leadership development
  • Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders
  • Encourage leadership of youth by youth
  • See for yourself what RYLA is all about: We created a short video that shows what we are doing at RYLA, learn more at: https://vimeo.com/1093355443 

When and Where is RYLA? The 2026 RYLA program will be held from Tuesday, June 16, 2026 to Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Austin Peay State University, in Clarksville, TN (www.apsu.edu). How do Participants Apply? To apply for the 2026 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), potential participants should submit all of the following:

Completed applications can be mailed, scanned and emailed, or by completing the online form by April 1st to: Mailing Address: Sheila Cleveland, c/o Brentwood Noon Rotary, P.O. Box 382, Brentwood, TN 37024. Email: 4kots2024@gmail.com.  Acceptance Letters will be mailed out by May 1, 2026. Application Process/Timeline:  May 1 Official 2026 District 6760 RYLA Acceptance Letters sent to selected RYLA participants on June 16th. RYLA program begins with check-in at 9:00 am June 20th RYLA program ends with graduation, which will be held from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Who is Eligible? Young people, entering the 10th or 11th grade, who live or attend high school within the boundaries of Rotary District 6760 are eligible. Students entering another year of high school in the Fall 2026 (i.e.: 9th or 12th grade) may be considered; however, entering 10th and 11th grade students will be given preference. How Much Does It Cost….And Who Pays? The district subsidizes the cost of the program. All unsubsidized fees are paid for the participating student by the sponsoring Rotary Club. The cost of the 2026 RYLA program (paid by the sponsoring Rotary Club) is $500 per participant. Cancelations on or after April 30th will result in no refund of any payment made.