FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 7, 2008

Contact:  Robert Preston, Jr.,
              912.260.4276
              robert.preston@sgc.edu

Dr. Charles Johnson recaps 2008 SGC RYLA program for Rotary

“Thank you for letting me attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference. It was a wonderful weekend. I learned a lot about being a good leader,” said Mary Esther Braswell as she recounted her experiences at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference (RYLA) to the Douglas Rotary Club at a recent meeting.

South Georgia College hosted RYLA in June, and welcomed 51 high school juniors and seniors from all over Southeast Georgia to campus. RYLA is a Rotary International program that started in Southeast Asia and has spread across the world. It was adopted by Georgia Rotary District #6920 in 1989, which is made up Rotary Clubs in the following counties: Baldwin, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Chatham, Coffee, Dodge, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Houston, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Laurens, Liberty, Lowndes, McIntosh, Peach, Pierce, Pulaski, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Tift, Toombs, Turner, Ware, Washington, and Wayne.

At the July 24 Rotary Club meeting, Dr. Charles Johnson and Mary Esther discussed RYLA’s weekend of events. Dr. Johnson is the SGC Chair of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Physical Education, SGC Associate Professor of Physics, RYLA Program Director, and a Rotary Club member. Mary Esther was the representative whom the Douglas club chose to send to RYLA.

“I learned about customer service, conflict resolution and my own strengths and weaknesses. I learned I have to be a good listener to be a good leader. I’m using what I learned in just about everything I do,” she said.

Mary Ester is a junior at Coffee High, where she plays oboe and tuba in the band and also serves as assistant drum major. Mary Esther is a member of the National Honor Society and a potential Honor Graduate. She has taken part in the Missoula Children’s Theater for nine years and was the stage manager for Coffee High’s spring drama production. Mary Esther is also very active in the youth group at Eastside Baptist Church, where she sings in the praise band and has participated in a mission trip to the Ukraine.

Following her remarks, Dr. Johnson explained the focus of the RYLA program. “It’s an intensive training program for youth leaders selected by local Rotary Clubs,” he said. Dr. Johnson said the focus of RYLA is to teach the fundamentals of leadership, ethics of positive leadership, communication skills, problem-solving, developing self-confidence and self-esteem and the elements of community and global citizenship.

SGC participates in RYLA as a means of supporting and developing the leaders of tomorrow. The college’s partnership with Rotary to host RYLA is but one way both organizations can provide an avenue for youth to learn valuable principles of leadership and community consciousness.

Photo Cutline: From left: Mary Esther Braswell, Dr. Virginia Carson, Dr. Charles Johnson and Oscar Street

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About South Georgia College

South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu) was founded in 1906 and is a two-year institution in the University System of Georgia. Located in Douglas, Ga., the college's environment gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty.