Over the years, Southern Sussex has sponsored more than a dozen high school juniors to participate in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). RYLA encourages servant leadership in youth by recognizing and rewarding deserving 11th grade students who are chosen to attend RYLA as an “award” for their past and present leadership and service activities. These select young people attend an all expenses paid camp – held locally in Ocean City, MD – where they are inspired by a diverse group of exceptional speakers, discuss ethical and social issues and complete a service project plan to address an issue of their choosing that affects their generation today. In order to sponsor these future leaders, Southern Sussex holds a fundraiser annually at the historic Clayton Theatre.
