Our Successes
YLA Success Story
Meet Roman Kokowsky, a former YLA/SNDP Graduate and now a United States Naval Officer!
Roman Kokowsky, a former YLA/SNDP Graduate who was involved with all of our programs, took his oath as an Ensign in the US Navy, and graduated from Summa Cum Laude from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
In addition to this OUTSTANDING accomplishment, he was awarded the 1st-Honor Graduate Class of 2021, and the Robert G. Miller Memorial Sword!


From Southern Nevada Devil Pup to 2nd Lieutenant Officer in The United States Marine Corps!
Congratulations, 2nd Lieutenant, Alex Wilson!
Lieutenant Wilson was a Southern Nevada Devil Pup in 2014, Encampment Eagle in 2015 and Graduate of all of our leadership programs!!
Youth Leadership Authority IS Building America's Youth... One Teenager at a Time!!!
This is the WHY…
We are very proud of YLA Master Grad level, Zachary Johnston!!The pics and details below tell a story of his path to phenomenal leadership!


Congratulations to Southern Nevada Devil Pup, YLA Eagle Helper and Rapport Teen Leadership Breakthrough graduate
Congratulations to Southern Nevada Devil Pup, YLA Eagle Helper and Rapport Teen Leadership Breakthrough graduate, Jason Kallus who just became a United States Marine!
Hear what LISA CHASTAIN, Parent of retreat graduate, CONNER CHASTAIN wrote:
We are extremely proud of YLA recent graduates. Check out the great things they had to say:
My name is Felicia Ricafort, I am 17 years old, and a senior at Durango High School. During YLA’s A Safe Place to Land – The Retreat, I have received spiritual, personal, professional, and physical training. I have learned so much that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. The leadership abilities that I have gained over this past weekend will only help me soar in college and in the Air Force.
My name is Quincy Fisher. I am 15 years old and I go to FHS (Foothill High School). I received Marine and Fireman training. This retreat really made me think more about going into the military or fire department. I really appreciate this opportunity and definitely would love to see everyone again next year.
Thank you for your generous donation which allowed me and several others to attend the YLA Retreat. Thanks to you I was able to grow spiritually and mentally. Because of your scholarship,I learned more about myself than what I could’ve possibly imagined.
-Jesus Romero
Thank you so much for being a part in making YLA possible. I learned so many things about myself that will help me throughout my life. I am training to become a home inspector, and I am currently working on passing the state exam.
-Kyia House
Dare I say “He’s Back!” I got MY son back. He walks different. His attitude is different. His outlook is more positive. For that I am truly grateful to you and y our organization for putting this together, for facilitating, for supporting thisevent and for caring enough about ALL of our youth and wishing to change lives.
-Rosemary Gregorec
I am so grateful for the experience, I took a lot away from this. When working in teams I learned that I can’t be selfish and stop and not push myself, especially when I have people counting on me. I also learned that I’m not so alone I have people who are like me who may be struggling in the same way and that made me happy that people understood me in that sense.
-Skye Thompson