District 5495 Youth Services News

D5495 Interact District Governor Message | October 2026

Hello everyone, 

Welcome back to another edition of the Interact DG Newsletter.

This month the Interact District Council has been working tirelessly to prepare for the rapidly approaching Fall Leadership Conference, which is on October 31st, from 9 AM to 12 PM. At FLC, we will be receiving presentations from our Ambassador Teams to Mexico and Kenya. We will also be highlighting some outstanding clubs who will share with us more about their Interact Programs. Additionally, we will be giving out important information about upcoming Interact District projects and competitions, such as our Food Drive, Blood Donors Recruitment Drive, and Video Contest. There will also be time for Interact leaders to talk with each other, and share projects that their clubs have participated in. Be ready for a morning of action-packed fun and information!

The link to register for FLC: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScy8sB5cz65wp6zp-5HoEOj3_tQoMeihLdsGMpNxicR3q7WIQ/viewform

Besides that, our AGs have been reaching out to their assigned clubs; so if your club hasn't received any communication from an Assistant Governor, please reach out to me at siddhanthvgupta@gmail.com, and I will be sure to connect you with the appropriate AG. 

Next, as all of you begin to map out your clubs projects for the year, remember that our Interact District Canned Food Drive is right around the corner, spanning from October 30th to November 25th. The link to record your club's cans raised will be posted on our Interact District Website shortly.

Finally, please go and follow our Interact District Instagram account at @interactaz5495. We just posted our first of many Instagram reels this year, so make sure to like that post and follow the account, so you can stay up to date on all of the happenings in our district.

See you at FLC!!

Sid Gupta 
Interact District Governor
2026-2027

D5495 Interact District Governor Message | September 2026

My name is Sid Gupta, welcoming you to the exciting world of Interact, through my first monthly Interact DG Article for this newsletter.

Our 21-member District Council kicked off the year at the Interact District Council Retreat at Camp Wamatochick in Prescott over the July 24th - 26th weekend. At the retreat, incoming Assistant Governors were put through rigorous leadership training. AGs were trained on how to connect with the Interact clubs they are assigned, rebuild struggling programs, effectively communicate developments at the district level, and maintain consistent communications with advisors and presidents of the Interact clubs they are responsible for supporting. Additionally, at this retreat, our council decided on and set goals for the rest of our Interact year, assigning numerical targets for each event and project that we are leading this year. Furthermore, our council received presentation reports from both our Kenya and Mexico Ambassador Teams, as well as a speech from our Rotary DG, Joe Sweeney.

Following this successful three-day retreat, our AGs have begun reaching out to their assigned clubs in order to ensure all clubs have up-to-date information on all of our District’s events and projects.

Our AGs have also been working extremely hard to prepare for our Fall Leadership Conference on October 31st from 9 AM - 12 PM as well as our Canned Food Drive, which runs from October 30th to November 25th, so make sure you check our website when the registration link for FLC is posted and participate in the Food Drive!

Looking forward to an amazing year of Interact with all of you!


Sid Gupta 
Interact District Governor 
2026-2027 

Clubs encouraged to support 2027 RYLA Camp

To all District 5495 clubs:

I hope this message finds you well! Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Zuri Torres and I am the new Chairperson of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Camp for the 2027-29 term.

It is with enthusiasm and honor that I step into this position to serve a leadership camp that not only has made an impact on thousands of youth within our Arizona communities, but changed my life as a teenager as well. I am a product of this incredible camp - having been a Delegate, Junior Counselor, Luke Lewis Award recipient, Adult Mentor, Committee Member and now Chair. Overall, I have around 15 years of RYLA magic in my wheelhouse. 

With dynamic leadership workshops, team building exercises, cross cultural connections and more, RYLA continues to be a place where young leaders are empowered to take the principles of Rotary and create lasting change in not only our state, but the world. 

I am asking for clubs, like your own, to invest in RYLA by providing scholarships for those in our district. With the support of the clubs in our district, we hope to host over 140 high school students on January 15-18, 2027 at Camp Pinerock in Prescott. These delegates are the future of Rotary; I am proof of it.  

Now, the details.  

The cost of a delegate scholarship is $450; this covers a delegate's dorm assignment, meals for the whole weekend, a RYLA hoodie and participation in camp activities. The cost is based on the number of estimated delegates and includes our district’s Rotary Youth Exchange students who will be registered as delegates. 

How to submit scholarship funds:  

  • To pay electronically, please use Zelle and use collectryla@rotary5495.org as the contact.
  • Please make any checks payable to Rotary District 5495 RYLA and mail them to: 

Rotary District 5495
Attn: RYLA 
4747 E. Elliot Rd. #29-467
Phoenix, AZ 85044

Please let me or our current RYLA Treasurer, AJ Sheridan (a.jim.sheridan.4@gmail.com), know how many scholarships (or total funds) your club is intending on providing no later than Aug. 15. This will allow our committee to plan based on expected contributions.  

If your club or any individual members are interested in supporting RYLA beyond scholarships, we have an Amazon registry list available. This list includes items that need to be replaced in our inventory due to wear and tear or would help our committee enhance the RYLA experience!  

All clubs and donors will be recognized during RYLA in January and on our social media platforms and newsletter.  

Please do not hesitate to contact me or AJ with any questions or concerns. We look forward to working with you to help make this another amazing RYLA for all!   

Yours in Service, 

 Zuri Torres

RYLA 5495 Chairperson, 2027-29 

chair@5495ryla.com

Jr. RYLA teaches Arizona youth about leadership, service and kindness

By Sophia Brown

Most Rotarians have heard of or been to RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) which happens every January for high school students. 

However, there is another Rotary youth camp that runs in the summer: Jr. RYLA at Camp Wamatochick. Taking place just a little bit ago from June 10 to June 13, Jr. RYLA is a RYLA camp for middle schoolers supported by Rotary Clubs in Rotary District 5495.

Rotary Clubs sponsor youth to attend this camp, making the camp free for all to attend. Jr. RYLA is put together by a volunteer committee, where Brianna Rodriguez, a recent graduate from ASU, has been volunteering her time for the past five years. Brianna has risen up to become the Counselor Coordinator, managing all the junior counselors, mentors, speakers, in addition to this year's curriculum for the camp, among many other tasks.

Brianna spoke to the impact of the camp on the youth who attend, saying “as the Counselor Coordinator, I am able to witness the enormous impact that Junior Counselors and Adult Mentors have on middle school youth, by helping them grow into who they want to become.” She adds how she witnesses “everyone, no matter their position at camp, grow their personal leadership skills.” 

Brianna is not the only one who recognizes the impact of camp, junior counselors Jilly Schear and Grace Duarte note the importance of camp as well. Jilly says “Jr. RYLA was an experience I will never forget because I learned so many leadership skills, and the team activities benefited each and every person.” Grace adds onto this saying, “I truly grew as a leader…and learned from my incredible delegates who I saw change and grow more confident throughout the camp!” 

Jr. RYLA puts on many activities for the campers including a Confidence Course (an obstacle course helping promote teamwork and self-confidence) and What is your Why (helping campers figure out what they are passionate about). These activities would not be possible without all the volunteers who give up their time to come to Prescott and put on this camp. 

Youth Corp leader Liz Magallanes-Holguin reflects on how “at Jr. RYLA, no matter what role you hold, we are all here to grow and learn from one another…It is more than just a camp. It is a place where leadership never stops developing, where lifelong connections are built, and where experiences continue to shape the people we become long after camp ends.” 

If you are interested in volunteering with Jr. RYLA, please contact 5495jrryla@gmail.com. Every act of service makes a difference.

Prescott Sunup Rotarians continue to support Junior RYLA

After helping to launch the JR RYLA program years ago with one of the two Founders' Donations and assisting in organizing this dynamic leadership training camp for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, Prescott Sunup Rotary members continue to volunteer their time and abilities each year to contribute to the success of the program. 

From its inception, our JR RYLA has been held at Camp Wamatochick, located six miles south of Prescott on Senator Highway, in the tall pines of Prescott National Forest.

 

Josh and Clent Walker instructing the archery course each year.

 

A.J. Sheridan reviewing with the campers lessons they learned from their team experiences on the Confidence Course.

 

 

 

 

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Rotary Club of Sun Lakes names 2026 Educator of the Year

Submitted by: Dr. Honora A. Norton. RCSL Public Image Director

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) reviewed applications for its annual RCSL Sandy Lundberg "Educator of the Year" Scholarship.  After RCSL's review of Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) applications, three teachers were selected to give presentations at a RCSL meeting.  The presentations were scored by RCSL judges - addressing teacher's experiences; leadership achievements; relationships with students, parents and families; volunteer activities; letters of recommendation; and promotion of Rotary ideals. 

Kim Alvin Delara, 2nd grade teacher at CUSD Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School was selected RCSL The Sandy Lundberg Educator of the Year ($2,000 scholarship). Runner-up teachers ($500 Scholarships) were: Savannah Menger, English Teacher at CUSD Hamilton High School and Lynda Fredickson, Education Professions Teacher at CUSD Casteel High School.  RCSL thanks Earnhardt Auto Centers for sponsoring the scholarships. 

The scholarships were established in 2017 as a prestigious annual awards.  Their purpose is to demonstrate RCSL's continuing commitment to the Chandler Unified School District - its educational objectives and the educators who work so diligently and professionally to achieve those objectives.

 Per RCSL Education Program Lead Rebecca Kerr, in May 2018, the first Award was presented to Sandy Lundberg, the principal of the newly opened Casteel High School.  Sandy was an active RCSL member, in which she provided the same energy to RCSL endeavors as she did to her profession. Her passion for children and community shone through whatever she did.  Due to Sandy’s untimely passing, RCSL proudly named the award - The Sandy Lundberg Educator of the Year Award. 

  • Photo above: L-R: Debbie Bailey (judge), Ed Anderson (RCSL Club President), Rebecca Kerr, Kim Alvin DeLara, Jon Lyons (RCSL representing Earnhardt Auto Centers), Savannah Menger, Principal Mark Munoz representing Lynda Fredrickson, Dr. Salina Bednarek (judge), Roger Edmonds (judge), and Dr. Diane Bruening (judge)

 

Sedona Village Rotary celebrates transformative year of youth service

 

The Rotary Club of Sedona Village celebrated a year of impactful youth service during its May 7 meeting, highlighting leadership programs, scholarships, theatre experiences and international exchange opportunities that benefited local students and families.

One parent shared how Rotary programs profoundly affected their family:

“It was really the most incredible experience hosting exchange student Samuel Knigge. It was really good for our daughter, too. She seems like a different person ever since RYLA (Rotary’s leadership camp). Rotary has been such an amazing influence on all our lives. Thank you, really, from the bottom of our hearts.”

The Youth Services Team began the Rotary year by hosting Missoula Children’s Theatre in July 2025, serving 55 youth actors and an audience of 269 attendees. The production is a partnership between the Rotary Club of Sedona Village, Sedona Community Library and Sedona Parks and Recreation.

Exchange student Samuel Knigge arrived from Norway before the school year and spent a busy year in Sedona through Rotary Youth Exchange. He lived with three host families, played four high school sports and participated in Rotary-sponsored trips and leadership activities, describing the experience as unforgettable.

Village Rotary also continued mentoring the Sedona Red Rock High School Interact Club, whose 50 student members completed 464 hours of community service through more than 18 projects.

In partnership with Sedona Rotary and Red Rocks Rotary, the club sent 15 students to Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) in Prescott. Students returned with increased confidence, leadership skills and a stronger commitment to service. No other school in Rotary District 5495 sends as many students to RYLA.

 In March, 13 Rotarians and community volunteers taught Life Skills Classes for 161 middle school students on topics including first aid, entrepreneurship, financial planning and conflict resolution. Due to the program’s success, the school requested its return next year.

This summer, nine students will attend specialized camps through Rotary scholarships, including soccer, ballet, music and cross-country training programs. Additional scholarships will support Parks and Recreation camps, and Fernando Quisumbing will attend the Sister Cities Youth Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.

Club members also assisted with the launch of a Lunches Out of Landfills program at West Sedona School and plan to expand it next year to the middle school. Village Rotary will additionally support local students attending Junior RYLA this summer.

To ensure student safety, the club has implemented Youth Protection Protocols requiring Rotarians who work frequently with youth to complete background checks and online safety training designed to promote awareness and proactive youth protection measures.

The Rotary Club of Sedona Village welcomes visitors and new members interested in supporting local youth. Meetings are held at the Big Park School Sedona Community Library on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 7:30 a.m., moving to 8 a.m. beginning in July.

For more information, contact president@SedonaVillageRotary.org. All are welcome!

 

Photo: Rotary Norwegian exchange student Samuel Knigge (middle) with representatives of his host families:  (left to right) Jennette Bill, Trinity Montague, Marlee Zapata, David Bill and Tommy Sturgeon