Back row: Aaron Gauger, Brooke Morris, Holly Scheer, Allyson Marvel, Julie Wheeler.
Front row: Autumn Shelagowski, Nicole Von Seggern, Kaylee Klompstra

By Tom Noreen

Cedar Springs High School High School students Brooke Morris, Kaylee Klompstra, Allyson Marvel, Nicole Von Seggern, and Holly Scheer, and Creative Technologies Academy students Victoria Hanes and Autumn Shelagowski, were selected by the Cedar Springs Rotary Club to attend Rotary District 6290’s 68th Annual Life Leadership Conference, to be held June 15-18 at the Kettunen Center in Tustin, Michigan.

Designed to help students expand their roles in service to their schools and communities, this conference attracts 150 student leaders from over 50 communities in Michigan and Canada. Conferees include Youth Exchange students from other countries and leaders from Rotary high school Interact Clubs.

The agenda includes motivational and thought provoking speakers, learning simulations, group projects, physical activities, and discussions focused on elements of leadership and understanding leadership styles. Guest speakers focus on the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” and how students can make a positive difference wherever they lead. Discussion groups explore the intellectual, ethical and emotional aspects of leadership. International Students who attend lend a global perspective on issues.

Upon return, the students will make a presentation on the conference and write an essay on how the conference improved their leadership abilities. The Life Leadership Committee, Julie Wheeler and Aaron Gauger, and Randy VanDuyn, will then select two students based on their application, interview, presentation, and essay. Each of these students will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

Rotary District 6290 conducts the prestigious Life Leadership Conference each year for outstanding student leaders. It is a powerful experience for all who attend. Beginning in 1949, it is the longest continually running Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program in the Rotary world.

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit www.cedarspringsrotary.org.

for Juniors and Seniors

The Cedar Springs Rotary Club is now accepting interest forms to attend a Life Leadership Conference for High School Juniors and Seniors in Tustin, Michigan, June 18-21. The conference fee, along with transportation to and from the conference, is covered by the Cedar Springs Rotary Club. Students learn about leadership styles and identify strengths and weaknesses of those styles. Small group discussions include an understanding of various political, cultural, ethnic, gender, and religious groups. Two $1,000 scholarships will then be awarded based on Interviews, Applications, Presentations and Essays submitted by the students chosen for the conference.

Last years attendees were Dani George, Samantha Lovell, Esther Couturier, Emma Bishop and Katie Tow. Interest Forms are available in the Cedar Springs High School Counselor’s office, CTA Counselor’s office, Independent Bank or White Creek Lumber, with a response deadline of Friday, March 21 at 5:00 p.m.