Cornell University's First Ever Rotaract Youth Leadership Institute

On April 26th, the Cornell Rotaract Club hosted the Cornell Rotaract Leadership Institute, a dynamic, one-day event that brought together 8th to 11th-grade students from across the Ithaca area to explore leadership, service, and community impact.

Students kicked off the day with interactive icebreaker activities designed to foster new friendships among future leaders. In a hands-on session exploring team dynamics, students participated in role-play activities to discover their own leadership styles and how to collaborate effectively with others. A panel of speakers—including Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) alumni, Interact Club Presidents, and Rotary Youth Exchange recipients—shared stories about applying leadership skills to make a difference in their schools and communities. Participants worked in teams to brainstorm and develop plans for community service projects, building skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and project management. To close out the day, students wrote letters to their future selves outlining their leadership goals. These letters will be mailed back months later, serving as a personal reminder of their aspirations and growth.

By the end of the conference, students left with a stronger understanding of leadership and collaboration, new tools and motivation to lead service initiatives, and a lasting network of like-minded peers!