This school year, the San Lorenzo School Interact Club in collaboration with the Students Assembly of San Lorenzo School, the Rotaract Club of Metro San Pedro, and the Rotary Club of Metro San Pedro, successfully organized and facilitated the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards in Area 1, Group 1 of Rotary International District 3820 on March 1, 2025 at the San Lorenzo School grounds.
With a theme entitled “MOSAIC WORLD: Weaving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity”, the organizers, headed by the SLS Interact Club President, Amanda Malolos, promoted Peace building and Conflict Resolution which is one of the Rotary International’s 7 areas of focus, hoping to increase awareness on DEI and reduce discrimination on race, religion, and gender. They were joined by the District 3820 RYLA Chairman, John Oliva, and 2 plenary speakers.
The first plenary speaker was Dr. Todd “Bowtie” Jenkins spoke all the way from Chicago, IL via Zoom before the crowd RYLArians. Dr. Bowtie is a Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow from the Rotary Club of Fayetteville, AK, who used to be a former Rotaract Advisor, Interact Sponsor, RYLA presenter, Youth Services Chair, and Club Director. He graduated from the Zone Leadership Academy of Rotary International District 6110 and became one of the youngest Youth Exchange District Chairpersons in Rotary International. He is a certified Leadership Management International Facilitator, Coach and Speaker with more than 10 years of training and development, leadership development, and an award-winning chief diversity and inclusion executive, trainer and strategist, who has worked with several small and large businesses and organizations throughout Europe, South America, Asia and North America, and trains groups inside fortune 500 companies, colleges and universities and various non-profit organizations.
The second plenary speaker was Prof. Alexandra Mae Rosales, who epitomizes beauty and brains. She has competed in many pageants since her teenage years and was crowned 2022 Miss Supermodel Philippines and the first Filipina to be crowned the Miss Supermodel Worldwide that same year. She hails from Calamba, and was crowned Laguna’s queen for the Miss Universe Philippines in 2024 where she landed in the Top 20. A few months later on September, she finished 2nd Runner-up in the Miss Grand Philippines 2024. This beauty queen who earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management and Masters of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management is also an educator who is currently a college professor in De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde, Manila.
Over 150 participants from different schools in the City of San Pedro joined this annual event co-sponsored by the Rotary Club of Metro San Pedro with the support of the City Government of San Pedro.