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Naas Student makes it to the 2012 Youth Leadership Finals!

Congratulations to Kevin Boonstra, 5th year student of the CBS secondary school, Naas.

Kevin was one of 24 secondary school competitors at the 2012 Rotary Ireland Youth Leadership Programme competition. The 24 students who entered represented 4 secondary schools in the Naas region; namely St. Mary’s Girls secondary school, Naas; Scoil Mhuire, Clane; Pipers Hill VEC, Naas and CBS Boys secondary school, Naas.

With two preliminary rounds of competition in order to get to the grand Leinster Final, held in Dublin, Kevin was chosen as the winner from the Naas region amongst an extremely high standard of competition. There are 4 outright winners chosen for all of Ireland and as in all competitions there has to be a winner chosen. Although Kevin was unlucky his time not to be one of them at this year’s final he nevertheless certainly made his school, parents, community and all of Naas very proud, as did all of this year’s 24 competitors whose ages ranged from 16 – 18.

Well done to all of you and to the schools who entered this years’ competition – the students are an amazing example of leadership excellence to their schools and community as are the schools an example of excellence to the students and the whole community!

Naas students have an excellent proven track record in the Rotary Youth Leadership Competition with the 2011 Leinster champion, also a Naas student, named Alexandra Kalinowska from Scoil Mhuir, Clane, County Kildare. Alexandra became the first County Kildare student to win the Youth Leadership competition for her amazing leadership qualities. Alexandra went on to enjoy her prize, travelling with other Irish students to and meet heads of government in Dublin, Belfast, London and then on to meet European Leaders in Strasbourg.

As evident through the likes of Kevin and Alexandra, the standard of Youth Leadership in our Naas region is quite staggering.

Every student who enters display clear evidence that there is an abundance of highly talented leaders amongst our youth who’s attitude and mind-set are for the leadership, support, care and guidance of not just our own great nation but a life refreshing understanding of the awareness of our Global concerns and needs in all aspects. If anyone has any fear as to whether or not we can produce great visionaries and ethical leaders then fear not for before us already the evidence is clear based on the experience of the experience of the judges.

What is The Rotary Youth Leadership Development Competition?

This competition is one of Rotary Ireland’s longest running youth projects and it rewards young people with clear leadership potential based on their extra-curricular activities.

The Prize!

Winners will visit Belfast and meet with local political, business and charity leaders, then we travel to Dublin for further meetings with leaders and then the highlight of the trip will be to debate a variety of motions in the European Parliament in Strasbourg at Euroscola.
The process to take part is very simple, your club invites schools and young people to participate. The competition is aimed at students in the senior cycle of secondary school.

How to Enter:

NOTE: ALL entrants for the 2013 competition must be under eighteen years of age on 31st March 2014
The Youth Leadership Development Competition is run by Rotary International in Ireland with the assistance of the European Parliament Office in Dublin. Submission of a completed Nomination Form is conditional on each applicant agreeing to abide by the Competition Rules.

Questions and answers, please contact Youth Leadership Competition co-ordinator

The competition is open to Youth community groups as well as secondary schools/colleges.

For more information and how to enter please contact:

Andrew Considine – Rotary Club of Naas,
Rotary Youth Leadership Coordinator for Naas,
Unit K3, (Above Ambit building)
M7 Business Park, Newhall, Naas, County Kildare.

Tel: 087 2182774
Email: [email protected]