RYLA Aplications 2026
Personal Data
Rotary Club: Other
Name: Lauren Poeppel
Gender: Female
School Grade: Sophomore
School – St. Thomas More High School
Primary Phone Number – 605.484.9547
Address: 5965 Sheridan Lake Rd Rapid City, SD 57702
Parent/Guardian Information:
Jami Poeppel
Phone: 605.390.5513 Email: [email protected]
Relationship – Mother
Vision
Please explain what you hope to gain by participating in RYLA.
By participating in RYLA, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of my own strengths, values, and leadership style while also learning how to communicate effectively and collaborate with others from diverse backgrounds. Through RYLA’s team-building activities, I want to develop leadership skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, and public speaking. I am also interested in learning how to lead while maintaining integrity and empathy, and how to motivate and support others in achieving goals. RYLA will allow me to form meaningful connections with my peers who are also motivated to make a positive impact in their communities. I hope to be able to apply what I learn at RYLA in real-life situations such as school, sports, or even in my future career.
Rotary’s motto is “service above self.” What does that mean to you?
To me, “service above self” means choosing to put the needs of others, and the well-being of the community, ahead of my own personal recognition. It reflects a mindset of responsibility and humility by doing what is right not because it benefits you, but because it helps someone else. “Service above self” is about small, everyday actions as well as larger projects. It’s about offering your time to listen when someone needs support, or stepping up when something needs to be done even if no one is watching or you don’t get recognized. It also means that you are willing to make sacrifices, such as time, comfort, or convenience, in order to create a positive impact. This is a commitment to something bigger than myself and encourages me to think about how I can use my talents to benefit those around me.
Past and Current Experience
Have you ever volunteered before? – Yes
List any past or present volunteer experiences including dates volunteered and position responsibilities.
Service to Church: Lector & Trunk or Treat decorator.
Service to Community: Grow vegetables in my garden and deliver the produce to the elderly and homeless. A box packer at Feeding South Dakota.
School Service: Bake sales and concession stand volunteering to raise money for various good causes and organizations like Packing Hope, Youth & Family Services, Love Inc, and Black Hills Works.
Do you currently have a job? – No
List up to three past or current paid job experience including dates employed and responsibilities. Start with your most recent
Have you received any awards or honors? – Yes
List awards or recognition that you received for academic, school, or community activities beginning in the 7th grade
Academic Awards – 10th Grade:
– Catholic Math League: Algebra II, 2nd Place
– Admitted to the University of Notre Dame Summer Scholars Program
Academic Awards – 9th Grade:
– Catholic Math League: Geometry, 3rd Place
– West River Math Competition: Geometry, 4th Place
Academic Awards – 8th Grade:
– President’s Education Awards Program
– High Plains Regional Science Fair, Engineering, 5th Place
– Ricoh Sustainable Development Award
– Catholic Math League: Algebra I, 2nd Place
– West River Math Competition: Algebra I, 3rd Place
Academic Awards – 7th Grade:
-High Plains Regional Science Fair, Social Sciences, 5th Place
School Activity: Volleyball
10 – Varsity starter in the outside hitter position.
10 – Team advanced to the South Dakota State Championship Tournament for the first time in 14 years!
10 – Team placed 6th in the South Dakota State Championship Tournament.
10 – Black Hills Conference Honorable Mention award recipient.
09 – V Team Captain and played Varsity.
09 – JV Offensive MVP award recipient.
08 – Started JV and sat on the Varsity bench.
07 – Started on the 8th grade team.
School Activity: Basketball
10 – Injured. I’ll be back!
09 – JV Team starter.
08 – Finished middle school undefeated, 35-0 record.
08 – Freshman high school team starter.
07 – Started on the 7th grade team and played on the 8th grade team.
School Activity: Track & Field
10 – School javelin record again.
09 – Held the school javelin record for two weeks.
08 – Consistently finished top 3 in middle school shot put.
07 – 7th grade school shot put and discus record.
Community Activity: Club Volleyball
10 – Player of the Tournament.
09 – Team Captain.
09 – Player of the Tournament.
08 – Competed at Nationals in Orlando, FL.
07 – Played on the 13-1s team.
School Activity: Yearbook
10 – Junior Editor.
09 – Designed the sports section.
08 – Lead Editor.
07 – Junior Editor.
School Activity: Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
10 – Helped start the club in my school.
10 – Attended minicamps.
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
Volleyball, Club Volleyball, Track & Field, Basketball, Yearbook, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), National Honors Society, West River Math Competition, and Catholic Math League.