Fall 2025
Greetings Club President!
Would you and your Rotary club like to impact the lives of high school students in your community? You can do just that by sponsoring local high school students to attend the Missouri RYLA Academy.
The Missouri RYLA Academy (MO RYLA) is a four-day/three-night service leadership academy that introduces Rotary’s “Service Above Self” philosophy. The curriculum, developed and administered by professional educators, includes a personality self-assessment, team-building activities, and a two-day service project simulation. Our program is recognized by Rotary International as one of the model RYLA programs in the world. It was the only break out session at the 2019 RI Convention in Hamburg, Germany.
MO RYLA has been going strong for over thirty years! In the last three decades, over two thousand students statewide having participated. Missouri Rotary Districts 6040, 6060, and 6080 partner to administer this premier academy. The staff is comprised of professional high school guidance counselors, educators and outstanding Rotarians from around the state.
In 2025, two academy sessions of MO RYLA will be held:
Session 1: Sunday, June 22 thru Wednesday, June 25
or
Session 2: Sunday, July 13 thru Wednesday, July 16
(Please note: The program is held in Warrensburg, Missouri on the campus of University of Central Missouri)
Rotary clubs have the opportunity to promote the academy and sponsor their local high school students to attend. There is not a cap or limit on the number of participants a club can send. Students are allowed to select their own preferred academy session date, with each session maxed at 100 participants. The registration fee is $600.00 per student.
The program is designed for rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. We do not accept incoming freshmen or high school graduates. There is no GPA requirement and family members of Rotarians, such as children or grandchildren, are eligible to attend.
We strongly recommend that you do not delay selecting and registering students. Many families make their summer plans months in advance and we find that is the number one reason why selected students have to decline the opportunity to participate.
Due to the success of the academy, spaces fill quickly. The official registration link for the 2025 sessions goes live on the www.missouriryla.com website January 1st, 2025. MO RYLA will begin heavy recruiting after the new year so this will not be the only time you will hear from us!
The most common question from clubs is how do clubs find and select students to attend? Many clubs work with their local high school guidance counselors to find the right kind of students. What does that mean? Here is a list of helpful selection tips: http://www.missouriryla.com/helpful-selection-tips
Bottom line, we are looking for students who have a heart for service.
It is important to take note of the following deadlines:
January 1: Sign up/registration for both sessions opens
April 30: Sign up/registration for both sessions closes
May 20: Last day for club refund of $575 if the student withdraws. No refunds will be given after May, 20.
January 1 - May 20, 2025: If your club has a student withdraw before May 20 and does NOT want a refund, you can sign up a replacement with either gender
May 21 - June 5, 2025: If your club has a student withdraw after May 20, you can sign up a replacement with a student of the same gender.
For further valuable program information, our awesome video and tips, check out the rest of the website: www.missouriryla.com
August 2023 was an awesome month for our program as MO RYLA was the feature article in the Rotary International magazine:
Rotary International Magazine 2023 MO RYLA Article
Read what MO RYLA grads are up to: http://www.missouriryla.com/rylarian-graduates
After Rotary clubs have registered and paid for their selected students, I will work with your club, students and their families directly to finish their registration process.
Please feel free to check back to the website from time to time to see our updates and learn more about this internationally acclaimed Rotary International youth program!
I look forward to working with you and your club.
Miki McKee Koelsch, Administrative Director
314.422.7894
Missouri RYLA Academy Non-Discrimination Policy
RYLA is committed to providing all students with a safe and supportive environment,
free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender, gender expression,
national origin or ancestry, disability or sexual orientation in any of its activities or operations.