Application for Regional Youth Leadership 2025-2026

Program Application & Information

This form closes at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 1st.
- A $275 program fee is due upon acceptance to Regional Youth Leadership in May 2025. Please do not send the fee with your application.
  - Financial assistance is available. We do not want this fee to be a barrier to your participation.
- Applications will be reviewed by the RYL Steering Committee who will consider several criteria such as complete, unique, and thoughtful responses to the questions and their alignment with RYL mission and objectives.
- Applications are anonymous and open to current high school sophomores in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Personal information is not shared with the selection committee.
- The RYL Steering Committee encourages applicants to commit 60-90 minutes completing the application. You may wish to prepare responses in a word document before entering them into this form so that you have a record of your responses. You are also encouraged to save your responses periodically as you complete the application.
- The committee will be seeking representation from a cross-section of the community and their decision will be based upon information contained in the application. The committee will be looking for a diverse group of students to provide the richest experience possible for participants. At least one student from each school that applies will be selected.
- You will receive an automatic copy of your application when upon saving and submitting. If you do not receive that email, please check junk/spam mailboxes before contacting our office.
- A parent/guardian and your school contact will receive automatic email messages requesting their approval and support of your application. You are encouraged to communicate your intention to apply with those individuals. If they do not receive an automatic email, please ask that they check junk/spam mailboxes.
Feel free to contact Ann Marie Whelan, amwhelan@nkychamber.com, with any questions or concerns. Good luck with your application!
Applicant Information

The following information is confidential and will not shared with the selection committee.
School Name*
Name of Applicant*

First NameLast Name
Preferred First Name*
What name do you go by? This is for your nametag.
Primary Address of Applicant*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState

Zip Code
County of Residence
Student Mobile Phone*
Student Home Phone
Optional
Student E-mail*
Personal email is preferred. School emails may encounter firewall issues.
Scholarship Request
Tuition for RYL is $275 despite program costs of $800+ per student. Tuition is non-refundable and is payable after acceptance notification in May. Tuition includes all expenses for the retreat, program materials, and refreshments for class sessions and graduation.

Financial assistance is available to those who cannot participate in the program due to the $275 fee. Please indicate the amount of scholarship funding you need. Scholarship requests will not impact program acceptance. We do not want this fee to be a barrier to your participation.
If you need a scholarship to participate in RYL, how much funding are you requesting?
Max scholarship is $275
Is your acceptance contingent on receipt of scholarship funding?
If yes or maybe, provide a short description on why we should consider you for the scholarship.

0/250
School Contact Information
Your school representative must approve and support your application for Regional Youth Leadership. By supporting your application, they will affirm that you meet the GPA requirements of the program and that you will be approved to attend RYL programming. Most often, the RYL school contact is a guidance counselor. A list of current RYL contacts is provided for your reference. Applications are open to any current high school sophomore in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, including those from schools not listed below. When you submit your application, the school contact will receive an automatic email notification of the submission with a link to approve your request. You are encouraged to communicate your plans to apply with your RYL School Contact. The approval form will come from ‘Jotform’ and may be misdirected to spam or junk folders.
School Contact Name*

First NameLast Name
School Contact Email*
example@example.com
Parent/Guardian Contact Information

A parent/guardian must provide their support and approval for your application. When you submit this form, the email address you list will receive an automatic email with a link to the Parent/Guardian Approval Form. If you are accepted into RYL, you will have the opportunity to provide contact information for another parent/guardian. Email may be diverted to junk or spam mailboxes so please check these mailboxes when looking to submit approval.
Parent/Guardian Name*

First NameLast Name
Parent/Guardian Email*
This person will receive an email approval form.
Parent/Guardian Mobile Phone Number*
Selection Committee Review

Information from this point forward will be shared with the selection committee.
Optional Information

Regional Youth Leadership does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, physical capabilities, national and ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity in the administration of its educational or admissions policies.
Race/Ethnicity:

Asian or Asian AmericanBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoMultiracialNative American or Alaska NativeNative Hawaiian or Pacific IslanderWhitePrefer not to discloseOther
I identify as...

MaleFemaleNon-BinaryPrefer not to discloseOther
Student Background Information

Hobbies, Interests, Passions, Future Plans
Provide a few bullet points on where we might find you outside of the typical school day. Do you work? Volunteer? Play a sport? Have a passion? Please limit your response to 250 words or less. *

0/250
Provide a BRIEF glimpse of your professional future. Where will you be in 10 years (professionally, not personally)? What is your chosen career? Do you have other goals? It’s ok if you do not know, simply provide a general idea. Please limit your response to 250 words. *

0/250
Writing Prompts

Maximum 175 words per question. Consider preparing your response in MS Word and then pasting it into the boxes below. Additional advice is provided on the FAQ page of the RYL website. Applicants are encouraged to consider this application as their way of introducing themselves to the selection committee. This is not a school assignment and there is no perfect way to respond. We want to know about you!
1. After reviewing the RYL website (www.regionalyouthleadership.weebly.com), why do you want to participate in Regional Youth Leadership and what do you hope to gain from the experience? What from the website appealed to you the most?*

0/175
2. At different times in our lives we draw inspiration from a variety of people, events, and experiences. Tell us what or who inspires you. Why?*

0/175
3. Misinformation spreads quickly in today’s world, both online and offline. Describe a time you questioned the accuracy of something you read or heard. What impact did it have (or could it have had), and how did you respond?*

0/175
Simply Stated & Fun

We value creativity! Have fun with these responses. This is not a school assignment.
1. In 75-words or less, share something unique, unusual, or funny about yourself.*

0/75
2. In 75 words or less, would you rather your life had a rewind, fast-forward, or pause button? Why?*

0/75
3. Give us your best 'Top Ten' list under a unique theme of your choosing. Be sure to include a title and a BRIEF statement as to why you picked the theme. Number each item but do not include extra details or descriptions. *
4. What three words would you use to describe yourself?
5. Text a close friend and ask what three words they would use to describe you.
Applications Terms

All applicants, regardless of decision, will be notified by May 1, 2025.
By entering my name below, I agree to fully commit to the policies and expectations of Regional Youth Leadership. I acknowledge that I have reviewed the RYL website and understand that it is my responsibility to become informed about all regulations and procedures required by the program. In no case will a regulation be waived, or an exception granted due to claims of ignorance of the regulation or assertions that information was not given.

I acknowledge that I have reviewed the RYL website and have considered my other commitments including college classes, employment obligations, and other extra-curricular activities. I acknowledge that full attendance and participation is essential to having a successful RYL experience. I accept the attendance requirements for RYL, acknowledge that the opening retreat on Sunday, September 7, 2025 is mandatory and recognize that two or more unexcused absences will result in removal from the program.

I assert that I am invested in this program and welcome the opportunity to participate. I am not being forced or coerced into submitting an application by a parent, guardian, or other individual.

I agree to complete session evaluations and submit one written essay on a session to be determined at a later date. I also understand that my application is not complete until my parent/guardian and school representative submit the required approval forms which will be sent to their email addresses electronically as I have entered above.

I am aware that notification of my acceptance will be sent via US Mail around May 1, 2025.
Read the statement above and enter your name here to accept the application terms. *
Applicants will receive an automatic confirmation email upon successful submission of this form. Be sure to check your email!
Should be Empty:

Program Application & Information

Applicant Information

Scholarship Request

School Contact Information

Parent/Guardian Contact Information

Selection Committee Review

Optional Information

Student Background Information

Writing Prompts

Simply Stated & Fun

Applications Terms