The Rotary Club of Athlone has selected Laura Marie Kelly from Athlone Community College to represent the Club in the regional finals of Rotary’s Youth Leadership competition. This is an annual, all-Ireland competition aimed at helping young people prepare for their future careers. The Youth Leadership competition is part of the Rotary’s development programme for young people, emphasising leadership, citizenship, and personal growth.
Twenty-four young people are selected from over 1,800 applicants from secondary schools all across Ireland on the basis of their achievements to date, potential as leaders, and a couple of short interviews. In March 2013, they will go on a trip to the Dáil and Stormont before taking part in the European Parliament’s Euroscola in Strasbourg.
“We had a very successful application process and are delighted with the participation of the secondary schools in Athlone. All the schools have a very busy schedule and we were very pleased to receive applications from 17 young people,” said Kevin Fahey, president of the Rotary Club of Athlone.
Over the past few weeks, members of the Rotary Club of Athlone interviewed the candidates looking at their personal achievements, work experience, and organisational and leadership skills. A total of six students were shortlisted to go forward to the club level.
The interviews were held in the Prince of Wales Hotel and conducted by Deirdre Hunt of Athlone Community Radio, Ita Hodder from Collins McNicholas, along with Kevin Fahy, president of Rotary Club of Athlone. The panel had a difficult decision to make and eventually selected Laura Marie Kelly to represent the Rotary Club of Athlone in the regional finals.
“If the calibre of the young people we interviewed is representative of the youth of Ireland, then the future of our nation is secure. All of the candidates are a credit to their parents, their teachers, and their schools and have very bright futures ahead of them,” said Mr Fahey.
The local Youth Leadership competition was organised on behalf of the Rotary Club by Siobhan Bigley, the schools interviews were conducted by Tom Murphy, James Shivnan, Helen Keenan, and Tom Keady. The club thanks all the teachers and management in the schools involved in organising the students for the competition.
