Magley has The Owls Nest clappin’ and snappin’ at KYLA banquet

The Owl’s Nest was filled with clapping, snapping fingers and chanting “K-Y-L-A” Wednesday evening, May 3, during the Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy graduation banquet.

The celebration was led by Evelyn Magley, the first woman to own a professional men’s basketball league and CEO of The Basketball League, with the help of four KYLA volunteers.

Magley was the keynote speaker for the 30th KYLA graduating class.

Her message was one of leadership and encouraging the students to know who they are.

“I look around this room and I see the future. I see the future of the nation, for the world. I see greatness and potential,” said Magley. “I see hope.” She acknowledged those who took the time to invest in the children.

She asked, “How many will make it being a leader?” She addressed the parents, stating, “Your children are being judged every day as if they are a superstar through social media.” Then to the students she stated, “To be a leader you have to know who you are. If you listen to the world, the world will own you.”

Magley stated it goes back to the family and community to help guide young people. “It’s serious business.”

“The only way you will make it as a leader is to know who you are,” she stressed.

She also asked the students, “What kind of leader do you want to be?” Then to the parents she questioned, “What kind of leader are you? Who are you?”

She singled out one young man in the audience and told him she loved him, he was divinely placed and needed to fulfill that purpose, “there would never be another you,” that he was special and no one could ever take his place.

“Don’t let social media take it away,” she said.

Magley stated parents and the community make an investment in children and have the opportunity to give and invest.

“Stay focused. Don’t let the world kill that which is inside you … stay focused and remember to bring positivity.”

KYLA had 34 students completing the program.

The students worked on seven projects this year. The board picked three projects to be presented at the banquet that showed initiative and teamwork. A slide presentation, along with a verbal presentation, was given by members of those groups. Each group presented their pathways to success, which included how the project was determined, fundraising process, logo creation, time management, organizational skills and leadership. Those chosen were:

• Tree Planing — The Growing Foundation. The group of five found they had nothing in common but environment and trees.

The result was raising $1,050 and planting 50 sapling trees behind the campground at Pike Lake. The trees were purchased for $750 along with $200 for the tree skirts. When the trees were planted they arranged for 10 volunteers to assist accomplishing their goal in two hours.

The funds remaining will be passed on to next year’s group to continue the foundation to reach other places in the county.

• Care for Cardinal project volunteered at Cardinal Services as a way to give back to the community.

This group learned to put others over themselves. The group had its eyes opened and learned to understand the challenges some people have in finding work.

While only four hours were spent at Cardinal, the group took part in daily activities and interacting with clients. They also taught a first aid class to the clients and used CPR dummies to provide the clients with useful information and practice experience in case of emergency.

• The Toys for Pre-K project focused on collecting toys and books to donate to preschools in the county.

This project was chosen to allow the KYLA participants the opportunity to help make an impact in the younger generations. Donations were sought from local churches, gathered and then delivered to the preschools. Over 500 books and toys were donated and distributed.

Other projects were:

• Destiny Rescue, where students spread awareness and raised funds for the organization that ex- ists to end child sexual exploitation and slavery.

• Animal Welfare League, with students helping raise funds, collect items and volunteer.

• Combined Community Service, where the group of students volunteered to stock the food pantry and hygiene rooms and organized the room for new clothes.

• Beaman Home, where students helped organize a fundraising luncheon.

KYLA educated students on various areas in Kosciusko County. Topics of meetings included education; social services, including visiting Combined Community Services and helping out in different areas of service for their clients; learning about orthopedics; agriculture; law enforcement; and the judicial system. The group was given a tour of the Justice Building, jail and dispatch center. The last session in April was the presentation of Project Proud.

KYLA is a nonprofit organization that provides an opportunity for high school juniors in Kosciusko County to learn about leadership and become informed about the community they live in. Appli- cations are being accepted for next year’s class. Current high school sophomores are eligible to apply. The application, as well as addi- tional information about KYLA, can be found at kosciuskoyouthleadership.org. The application deadline is May 17.

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