Three Spaulding High School students who attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) in June 2026 presented on their experience at the 08/11/26 Barre Rotary meeting. Lyndsey Laflamme, Alexis Dodge & Hayden Rock (shown left to right in our pictures) shared their best moments & take-aways from RYLA 2026.
RYLA is held the last weekend each June at the Vermont State University (Lyndon Campus) and is offered to rising high school Juniors who want to learn & practice leadership skills. Students from New Hampshire, Vermont and Quebec spend the weekend at the VSU college dorms & campus. They team together for skill building events, activities & presentations. Lyndsey Laflamme noted that attending RYLA improved her speaking & leadership skills, while Alexis Dodge identified her leadership style through a student exercise. Hayden Rock enjoyed the community service project, during which the students worked together to box up 11,000 meals to serve folks in need in their respective communities. Applications for RYLA 2027 will be available starting in January 2027 and can be found at the Rotary District 7850 RYLA website page ( https://rotary7850.org/sitepage/ryla ) or by contacting the Barre or Montpelier Rotary Clubs.
