This past weekend, Gunston juniors Kate Andrews, Jed Cohen, and Lucas Watkins took part in Rotary’s annual RYLA conference in Ocean City, Md. The 3-day intensive leadership conference was organized by Rotary District 7630 and the delegates were sponsored by their local Rotary Clubs. The goal? To empower and inspire the next generation as they gear up to assume leadership roles in their communities!
 
With over 130 high school students from across the Delmarva Peninsula in attendance, the conference was packed with engaging seminars and hands-on workshops. Participants collaborated in teams to brainstorm and design community service projects, leading up to an exciting finale where they presented their ideas to Rotary leaders.
 
Our Gunston juniors truly impressed everyone with their presentations! Kate and Jed’s team crafted a mentoring system along with personalized care kits for kids aged 3-18 who are in the hospital for extended stays. Meanwhile, Lucas’s team presented a plan to combat child poverty by fundraising for care packages aimed at supporting impoverished children in the Delmarva area.
 
Lucas reflected on his experience, stating how much he learned about leadership, while Jed expressed his gratitude for the new friendships he formed at RYLA. Kate commented about the importance of compassion and kindness as necessary attributes for any leader. Energized and inspired, our three Gunston juniors have returned home ready to put their newfound leadership skills into action and make a positive impact in their local communities and beyond!