This is the fifteenth year the week-long event has been held and the third it has been headed up by Patterson, who is also Erskine's head men's basketball coach. "It is really a treat to be able to work with such an outstanding group of young people and see the people that are going to be tomorrow's leaders in action," he said.

Formerly called S4TL (Seminar for Tommorrow's Leaders), RYLA is sponsored by Rotary District 7750 in Western South Carolina. The delegates are nominated to attend by their home rotary club who then contributes $275 per delegate to attend. The delegates themselves pay $50.

The delegates spend the week interacting with their peers in small groups engaging in role-playing, values clarification, and intense situational exploration. Additionally, speakers from the business, athletic, and political arena address the group each day. Clemson basketball head coach Rick Barnes spoke to last year's delegates.

This year the group has heard, among others, stress management expert Barbara Hodges. "I really liked Barbara," delegate Will McAllister (above, center) said, adding, "overall I'm having a good time and learning a lot about life."

"We're learning to have a positive attitude," delegate Tiffany Davis (on right, second from left) said.