RYLA Aplications 2024
Personal Data
Rotary Club: Other
Name: Esten H Johnsen
Gender: Male
School Grade: Junior
School – Seward High School
Primary Phone Number – 402.366.6718
Address: 1430 201 Drive Seward, NE 68434
Parent/Guardian Information:
Angela Johnsen
Phone: 402.366.7861 Email: johnsenangela@gmail.com
Relationship – Mother
Vision
Please explain what you hope to gain by participating in RYLA.
Last year, I had the amazing opportunity to attend Nebraska’s HOBY State Seminar! From my understanding, RYLA is similar, but very different! I am an individual who always wants to grow in my passions, leadership, and positivity. RYLA would provide me with an experience to not just make these growths, but to surpass my expectations!
Rotary’s motto is “service above self.” What does that mean to you?
“Service above Self” means that while you still value yourself, how you serve the community and organizations around you is important in more ways than one. One way that this saying is important is that it is crucial that communities within the world have people that value the motto “Service above Self” because without those people, we wouldn’t have the amazing and supportive communities that we have today! Another way is that the individual who lives by these three words grows in their character. I try to live out this motto by volunteering at my church, within the school, and organizations that I am passionate about.
Past and Current Experience
Have you ever volunteered before? – Yes
List any past or present volunteer experiences including dates volunteered and position responsibilities.
I have 246 community service hours in my high school career. These hours are from helping with FFA events/banquets, assisting school functions, and leading youth activities at my church like Vacation Bible School and Summer Horizons.
Do you currently have a job? – Yes
List up to three past or current paid job experience including dates employed and responsibilities. Start with your most recent
Currently I am employed in the Nutritional Health Services Department in Memorial Health Care Systems in Seward. I started this job last June, and am still employed. In this job, we help serve meals to the hospital staff, make food trays for the patients within the hospital, and clean a lot! My employer for my Nutritional Services Aid Position is Sarah Hanson: Sarah.Hanson@mhcs.us
I detasseled for Sloup & Thorell for three summers. I also worked at the Civic Center here in Seward. Both of these two jobs are in the past.
When I detasseled, it required really early mornings and started in early July and ends early August. My duties required me to pull the tassels out of the corn stock while walking up and down the roads. This job required a lot of walking! My crew leader for detasseling was Jill Bisbee: jill.bisbee@sewardschools.org
When I worked at the Civic Center, I had to sit at the front desk and direct people to where their organization was meeting. I also had to close the Civic Center most nights and this required me to take out the trash, shut off all the lights, and restock what was needing to be restocked. I started working this job in June of last year and ended it in October of the same year. My employer for the Civic Center was Erin Wiseman: 6wisemen@gmail.com
Have you received any awards or honors? – Yes
List awards or recognition
I have been nominated 16 times for Seward High Schools PRIDE awards that stand for Preparation, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Effort. I also have gotten 3rd Place in the State American Legion Oratorical Contest, 2nd (Runner-Up) in the VFW Essay Contest, and been selected as a qualifier of the Junior Youth Salute Award.
that you received for academic, school, or community activities beginning in the 7th grade
I have been nominated 16 times for Seward High Schools PRIDE awards that stand for Preparation, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Effort. I also have gotten 3rd Place in the State American Legion Oratorical Contest, 2nd (Runner-Up) in the VFW Essay Contest, and been selected as a qualifier of the Junior Youth Salute Award.
Have you participated in extracurricular activities or organizations? – Yes
Please list, in order of importance to you, any school, religious, social, athletic, hobbies or other activities or organizations which you have participated in since the 7th grade
Extracurriculars are my favorite part of high school! I am a part of FFA (Future Farmers of America), Speech Team, BLT (Bluejay Leadership Team), Cross Country, FCA (Future Christian Athletes), Hope Squad, Key Club, Track, Seward High Ambassadors, SkillsUSA, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), Social Media Intern, Prom Planning Committee, and National Honor Society.
Within these extracurriculars, I have had leadership positions! I have been the Reporter, Vice President, and now Secretary of FFA, the Junior Class Leader of Bluejay Leadership Team, and even lettered in Speech Team this year!