Special to The Journal

Senior Lacey Phillips, who is the Community Chairperson for Crenshaw Christian Academy’s Rotary sponsored service organization Interact Club, was chosen to attend this year's Rotary Youth Leadership Awards conference.

RYLA, for short, is a four-day leadership conference held for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and is sponsored by Rotary, International.

This year, it was held March 15-18, at Camp ASCCA, Alabama’s Special Camp for Children and Adults, in Dadeville, Alabama.

&uot;RYLA is an amazing experience and a fantastic opportunityfor students to learn about leadership and build lifelong friendships,” Phillips said. &#8220We participated in high and low rope activities and obstacle courses to buildcommunication, listening skills, and trust.”

&#8220One of the high rope courses is a thirty-five foot high cargo net that we could climb individually,” Phillips said.

&#8220Even with supervision, the proper safety equipment, and support from my teammates, it was still pretty scary, but was totally worth it when I got to the top.

We had several speakers throughout the event, which included a motivational speaker, Joyce Brookes, and a former thunderbird pilot, Ron Mumm.”

&#8220 I had three roommates, which included two girls I had previously not met, one from Autaugaville, and one from Enterprise,” she added.

&#8220The other girl was from Luverne High School named Chasity Faulk.

All three were amazing, smart, and funny, and we shared many memories, including the last morning when we tripped a breaker because we were all trying to fix our hair at the same time.”

Phillips said that the directors of RYLA were determined that the students should have as much

fun as

possible.

They planned a swing dance, a movie night and a campfire.

Sunday was their

last day

which was started by a worship service led by the students.

They listened to one more speaker, took some last minute pictures, shed a few tears, and said their good-byes.

&#8220It was truly an awesome experience,&uot; Phillips said.

&#8220We are so proud of Lacey for doing such a great job representing CCA at RYLA,” CCA Headmistress Angela Carpenter said.

Lacey is the daughter of Allen and Joy Phillips of Luverne.