RYLA Aplications 2026

Personal Data

Rotary Club: Rapid City SD

Name: Ellie n Palmer

Gender: Female

School Grade: Sophomore

School – St.Thomas More High School

Primary Phone Number – 605.415.8910

Address: 2931 Sandstone Lane Rapid City, SD 57701

Parent/Guardian Information:

Laurie Palmer

Phone: 605.877.2942 Email: [email protected]

Relationship – Mother

Vision

Please explain what you hope to gain by participating in RYLA.

I believe participating in RYLA would be an amazing opportunity for me to grow in my leadership abilities, strengthen my passion for service, and help me to build connections with other young people across our region. I think a camp like RYLA would allow me to really discover what kind of leader I am and how I can show this kind of leadership. I would hope to gain more self-confidence through these leadership activities and gain trust in my abilities to help others. Going to RYLA would create a long-lasting impact not just on me, but also the school and community I am from. At St. Thomas More High School we do not have an Interact Club, and I think attending RYLA would give me the foundation to start one. I think what the Rotary and Interact clubs do for our communities is so inspiring, and I would really like to help bring STM into that kind of service. I believe the RYLA camp will help me to meet with leaders and students of both clubs, and see what I can do to implement it into my school system. Through this I believe my passion for service will grow deeper and be more impactful. I also think the RYLA camp will be such a fun experience to meet with other students across the region and help build a connection that can be used for future collaborations and projects!

Rotary’s motto is “service above self.” What does that mean to you?

What this means to me is the importance of prioritizing others needs before your own, and helping your community to flourish, rather than just yourself. I have found that when I am serving I can recognize that the people I am serving are just like me. Those human connections developed through service are so much more important than serving only your personal gain. Being selfless in this way actually contributes to the growth in you as a person more than being selfish does. When I do service, I always gain something special from the people I am serving for. They are able to teach me a lot about myself and better be able to contribute to the community. Doing things for yourself typically really only benefits you, while serving others can benefit so many more people. Benefiting more people creates a stronger and lasting impact, and can encourage those people to also serve selflessly.

Past and Current Experience

Have you ever volunteered before? – Yes

List any past or present volunteer experiences including dates volunteered and position responsibilities.

Volunteer experiences from the 2025-2026 school year (current sophomore year)

Volunteered at The Monument 11/8/25: Helped advertise a non-profit Toy Drive at the Pop Up Market Place.
This volunteer work helped to re-purpose old toys and give parents a lower costing option to buy their kids presents to have under the tree on Christmas.

Volunteered at the Journey Museum 11/2/25: Worked at the first showing of the American Revolution by doing a candle-making activity for kids.
This volunteer work made it possible for people with young kids to be able to experience this first showing while their kids were able to be part of an educational and engaging activity.

Volunteered at OLPH (Cathderal) 12/3/25: I babysat during the Advent Parish Mission in the nursery.
This volunteer work allowed for both parents and kids of OLPH to be able to attend the mission activities. During the babysitting we did activities for the kids to help them better understand Advent and grow in their faith.

Volunteered for STM 12/7/25, 12/5/25: I helped set up our elementary school’s art show and set up for our school’s Angel Bazzar. The art show displayed the art work from all of the elementary students for their relatives/friends to come see and the Angel Bazzar was a fundraiser type thing for our school while also contributing to local small businesses.

Volunteered at School of Mines 1/13/26: I helped sell baked goods for our bake sale fundraiser for Packing Hope. Packing Hope is when our entire Rapid City Catholic School System (Pre-school through 12th) comes together to pack meals to be sent to places in need. Through contributions like the bake sale, we were able to fundraise enough money to package over 100,000 meals! This school wide service day is always so fun and allows every student to become more selfless and caring for those who need our help most.

Volunteered at OLPH 1/21/26: More help with the babysitting program. This kind of service very much strengthens my ability as a volunteer and helps me grow in patience!

Volunteered at Our Lady of Black Hills 1/24/26: Set up and collected for our Packing Hope fundraiser.
This work helped to fundraise more for Packing Hope and build connections with more people from our area who may want to get involved with our cause.

Volunteered at St. Therese 2/8/26: Set up and collected for Packing Hope fundraiser.
This work helped to reach more people for our cause.

Volunteered at The Monument 2/7/26: Worked a concessions stand with other students from STM to raise money for Packing Hope.
I really enjoyed doing this work, knowing that it benefited something bigger than myself.

Volunteered at Teen Court 2/23, 3/2, 3/9: Teen Court is a restorative justice diversion program for first-time or low-juvenile offenders. This allows them to avoid formal charges and takes the offense off of their permanent record. The jury, prosecutor, and defense attorney are all student volunteers, and the judge is an adult volunteer.
I really enjoy doing this. I have gained a lot of knowledge and experience in court, and how to be fair to others.

Volunteered at St. Therese 2/28: Helped bake caramel rolls for a fundraiser for Steubenville of the Rockies Conference.
Doing this work raised money for highschool students interested in attending the conference to go at a discounted cost.

Volunteered at OLPH 4/4: Babysat my siblings during the Easter Vigil Mass.
Doing service can be as easy as helping out your own family members, and doing this really showed me that. My parents were becoming godparents during the mass, so I had to watch my younger siblings in the audience. It was a long mass but very cool to experience!

School wide service days so far: Packing Hope, Service at local nursing homes and assisted living facilities, service at Black Hills Works, and sophomore service day for YFS.
STM students spoke with and hung out with these residents, and after created a poster depicting each residents homecoming experiences and traditions (this was during our homecoming week). I really enjoyed working with the old people and making sure their life stories are being shared.
Black Hills Works is a non-profit organization that empowers adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I was a part of a group that made crafts with the adults. I really enjoyed speaking with them and making sure they felt supported.
For YFS (Youth and Family Servcies) our sophomore class made and decorated cookies to be distributed to families and people who donate to YFS. This was a fun activity, something that bonded our class, and less had personal face to face service. This kind of service is still important and was positive for people who like that kind of service.

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

– SDSHAA State Cross Country Meet Qualifier 2022
– Howard Wood Meet Qualifier 2024
-Black Hills Soccer Conference Champions Team Award 2025
– Awarded as a student who maintained 4.0 GPA all throughout middle school years
– Chosen as a Youth Delegate for the National League of Citites Conference
– Chosen as a Youth Delegate on the Rapid City Sustainability Committee
– Chosen to attend University of Notre Dame Summer Scholars 2026 Summer Session I (Public Speaking and Debate)

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

– Member of the Rapid City Youth City Council 2025-2026 term (Reapplied for next year)
. This council does a lot of community engagement through different projects and helps to voice youth opinion on policies and work being done in the city.
– For subcommittees:
. Community Outreach and Sustainability Liasion
. Youth Philanthropy Workgroup
. Harvest Festival 2025 and Earth day Expo 2026
. National League of Cities Conference in Washington D.C. 2026

– Sophomore Class Representative for STM Student Council (Was a representative my freshman year as well)
. Help with food drives, fundraisers, and setting up school events such as homecoming

-National Honor Society Member (2025 -2026)
. Volunteer work and student engagement development (Focus was on Packing Hope this year)

-Health Occupations Students of America Member (HOSA) 2025-2026
. Attend mini camps and conferences to develop student interest in the health field

– Yearbook Committee Member (2025 -2026)
. Create pages for school yearbook

– Attend church youth group

– Varsity Starter for STM Girls Soccer Program (4-time Letter Winner)
. State semifinalist 2025-2026 season
. Black Hills Conference Champions 2025-2026 season (first time in a decade!!)

– Varsity Runner for STM Cross Country and Track Program
. State meet qualifier
. Howard Wood Meet qualifier

– Black Hills Rapids Soccer Club athlete (2024-2025), Premier Soccer Club athlete (2025-2026)

– Worked for a Property and Management company as an intern (2025 summer)

– Steubenville of the Rockies Camp 2025 Attendee
– Totus Tuus Summer Camp Attendee 2022, 2023, 2024
– Black Hills State Soccer Camp 2025

. Hobbies: Hiking, art and crafting, and hanging out with friends