Smith and Barnhart attend Rotary leadership academy

MATT BARNHART AND DANIELLE SMITH

HUNTINGDON - The Rotary Club of Greencastle provided scholarships for incoming Greencastle-Antrim High School seniors Matt Barnhart and Danielle Smith to attend Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) at Juniata College.

RYLA is an intensive training program for community youth leaders. RYLA's core curriculum includes fundamentals of leadership, ethics of positive leadership, problem solving and conflict management, Rotary's purpose and service to the community and building self confidence and self esteem.

Areas of emphasis included learning about the application of conservation techniques at Juniata College, team building events at Shaver's Creek and leadership training provided by Rotarian Bruce Harlan. In addition, the participants completed several community service projects in accord with the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self".

Matt is the son of Steve and Mary Lou Barnhart. He is the Class of 2009 vice president, a member of Peer Leaders, Student Council, National Honor Society, Young Life, Boy Scout Troop 99, Venture Crew 99, track and field team and is the school mascot, "Blue."

Danielle is the daughter of Todd and Sharon Smith. She is a member of Peer Leaders, Tumani Ambassadors, National Honor Society, Greencastle Campaigners, field hockey team, track and field teams, and works at Camp Joy-El during the summer.

The RYLA workshop is one of many youth programs Rotary sponsors and it is designed to encourage young adults to take a more active role and interest in leadership and community service activities. Danielle and Matt joined approximately 60 other youths for participation in conference building sessions and a community service project in the Huntingdon area. They toured Lincoln Caverns and participated in a hands-on workshop in team-building at the Penn State's Shaver's Creek Environmental Center.

Matt attended a Greencastle Rotary Club meeting in June and talked about his experiences at the RYLA Conference. Danielle will be visiting the club at a future date.