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Morrison Rotary Club Sends Seventeen Students to Rotary Leadership Camp
This year the Morrison Rotary Club, in partnership with the Erie Rotary Club, is sending 13 Morrison High School and 4 Prophetstown High School students to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp (RYLA). The camp will take place this past weekend May 3-5 at the Lorado Taft campus of NIU at Lowden State Park.
The purpose of RYLA is for students to improve their leadership skills as they work together in teams. They meet students from all over northwestern Illinois as well as exchange students from all parts of the world. Lasting friendships are built during this time. The camp is staffed by Rotarians from around the District who volunteer their time to provide a safe, positive atmosphere for the students. Approximately 120 students attend the camp each year.
The camp has an amazing impact on students’ lives. Several past Morrison High School campers have gone on to become student Counselors/helpers at the RYLA camp; one student went on to find the nearest RYLA camp in the Rotary district where they were going to college and helped them run their camp for two years.
This is the second year in a row the Morrison Rotary Club has sponsored students from both Morrison and Prophetstown. Because of the large number of applicants, and because the club did not want to turn anyone down, the Erie Rotary Club stepped up and assisted with the funds to send them. Another club, Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary, also helped to contribute to the cause.
The Morrison Rotary Club organizes the Harvest Hammer 5K Race and Duathlon each Fall. It is their only fundraiser. Proceeds from the Harvest Hammer are used each year to provide scholarships to Morrison High School Seniors, send students to RYLA and fund community and international projects.
Today Morrison Rotary welcomed Kate Vos (left) and Cassie Osborn as our April Students of the Month from Morrison High School.
Cassie is a Senior, has been involved in musicals, Band, Choir, Jazz Band and Drama Club. She has also been a dancer at Leanne's Dance Connection for 15 years. Her plans are to attend Illinois Wesleyan University and major in Music Education. Cassie's parents are Roger and Sheila Osborn
Kate is a Senior. She has been involved in Softball, Volleyball and basketball. She has been a Student Council member for 4 years. Her plans are to attend Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL. Her parents are Dale & Polly Vos.
Morrison Rotary Club Literacy Committee Chair Ellen Smith submitted these photos of one class which is receiving free books throughout the 2018-2019 school year. Parent donations supported the program, Smith noted.
Northside School children received their October installment of free, monthly books, provided by Morrison Rotary Club. Increasing literacy is an important goal of the organization. Below are children in Karen Mayberry's class.
Kolten Conklen was our speaker today. Kolten traveled to South Korea through the Rotary Long Term Youth Exchange program. He spent the 2016-2017 school year there and was sponsored by the
Sterling Noon Rotary club. While in South Korea he stayed with three host families and learned a lot about their culture.In the photo Kolten’s jacket is covered in all sorts of pins and memorabilia that he collected throughout his visit. This is a tradition with all of the exchange students (inbound and outbound).
Kolten is currently attending the University of Illinois studying International Studies and Business. He will return to South Korea next Spring on a study abroad.
On October 17, Dr. Steve Nunez, Vice President of Academics and Student Services at Sauk Valley Community College and Lilian Maxfield, SVCC student and Morrison resident, enlightened our Rotary club with a presentation on Rotaract. Rotaract is a student club that is affiliated with Rotary Club International and local Rotary Clubs found in Dixon, Rock Falls, and Sterling. Rotaract is focused on: (1) "Service Above Self" and will conduct local service projects and at least one international fundraising event each year, (2) providing opportunities for students to grow their leadership skills, and (3) interacting with local Rotary Club members to develop a professional network with local business, government, and educational leaders from across our community. Lilian reported that donations through Rotary that were used to supply books to students at Northside School. Rotaract students went to the school and read those books to the children. She said it was very fulfilling.
