Leon Toursarkissian, a junior at TMI Episcopal, earned a Leader of Leaders award for outstanding participation at the District 5840 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Conference, held Jan. 17-20 at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels.

Senior Victor Alejos, who attended last year, was invited to return as a team leader.

At TMI, Toursarkissian is a member of the Corps of Cadets (JROTC), was elected secretary of the National Honor Society, has earned a Gold award in the National Spanish Examination and was chosen as one of TMI’s delegates to last summer’s HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership) seminar in Austin.  Alejos is president of the senior class and co-captain of the boys varsity swim team.

The annual conference is open to 150 high-school juniors in South Central Texas. The RYLA program is designed for outstanding high-school students to help develop qualities of leadership and good citizenship. Young men and women, selected by their local Rotary clubs, are invited to participate in leadership training meetings organized and run by Rotarians.