Ten Ankeny high school students attended the 2026 Iowa Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference at Grinnell College with scholarships provided by the Rotary Clubs of Ankeny. The five-day experience focused on leadership, service, confidence and connection.
Ten Ankeny high school students had the opportunity to grow their leadership skills this summer through the 2026 Iowa Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Conference at Grinnell College.
The Rotary Club of Ankeny Noon sponsored six students, while the Rotary Club of Ankeny Evening sponsored four. Each student completed an application and interview process and received a $530 scholarship covering the cost of attending the conference.
The 2026 conference, held July 26–31, brought together 185 high school students from across Iowa, along with youth leaders and Rotarian volunteers. The five-day experience focused on leadership, service, confidence, teamwork and building meaningful connections.
Students were challenged to step outside their comfort zones, recognize the strengths of others and discover that leadership is not always about being the person in charge — it is also about listening, supporting others and showing empathy.
Following the conference, students returned to Ankeny and shared their experiences with members of the Rotary Clubs of Ankeny. Their presentations gave Rotarians a firsthand look at the impact RYLA can have on young people and the value of investing in the next generation of community leaders.
The 2026 conference also marked the 20th anniversary of the statewide RYLA program sponsored by Rotary Districts 5970 and 6000.
Students currently in grades 9–11 at Ankeny’s three high schools will be eligible to apply for the 2027 Iowa RYLA Conference, scheduled for July 25–30, 2027 at Grinnell College. Applications will be available February 1 through April 30, 2027.
For more information about RYLA opportunities in Ankeny, contact Steve Wieneke at swieneked6k@gmail.com.
