The end of this week marks the deadline for local high school juniors and seniors to apply for sponsorship to a leadership camp.

Friday, Feb. 20 is the deadline for the Rotary Club of Chilton County to receive applications for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program, which will be held March 26-29 at Camp ASCCA on Lake Martin.

Any local junior or senior is eligible to apply and should do so online here.

“I’ve attended RYLA as a counselor, so I know this is a unique opportunity for local students to enhance their leadership skills–and make many new friends,” said Stephen Dawkins, president of the Rotary Club of Chilton County and managing editor for The Clanton Advertiser. “We’ve always had strong local interest and participation–last year we sponsored six students–so I encourage any local junior or senior who’s interested to apply.”

Students chosen are sponsored by the local Rotary club to attend the leadership program, so there is no cost to the students.

The online application is brief and includes short answers to questions including what does the Rotary motto “Service Above Self” mean to the student, and how the student would benefit by participating in RYLA.

Participants hear from community and Rotary leaders on a variety of topics, including leadership fundamentals, ethics, effective communication, problem solving, conflict management, and community and global citizenship.

Students are chaperoned the entire time they are in attendance, including dorm chaperones.

More information is provided by the local Rotary Club and Rotary District 6880.

Anyone with questions can call Dawkins at (205) 755-5747.