Bec Morris Wins Rotary District’s Top Honor
Published on by Kat Jenkins in Firm News
- Outstanding recognition: Barnes Dennig’s Bec Morris was named Rotarian of the Year for Rotary District 6560 in Central Indiana.
- Service Above Self: The award recognizes Bec’s exceptional commitment to community service and youth leadership development.
- Reviving RYLA: Bec successfully rebuilt the district’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program, welcoming 40 students sponsored by eight Rotary clubs in 2026.
- Developing future leaders: RYLA helps young people build confidence, strengthen leadership skills, and develop teamwork through hands-on experiences.
- Building on success: Bec aims to expand RYLA in 2027 to reach 60 students sponsored by 14 Rotary clubs.
Recognition honors Morris’s commitment to developing the next generation of leaders across Central Indiana.
Building a better, brighter future goes beyond the work we do for our clients. It’s also about investing in the communities we serve and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
That’s exactly what Bec Morris has been doing through their involvement with Rotary International. And now, their extraordinary commitment has earned them one of Rotary’s highest district-level honors: Rotary District 6560’s Rotarian of the Year.
Presented by the District Governor, the award recognizes a Rotarian who exemplifies Rotary’s guiding motto, Service Above Self. Morris received the honor for their “Outstanding service to the district through an exemplary RYLA Program.”
Reviving a program. Inspiring future leaders.
When Morris joined the Rotary Club of Indianapolis in 2025, they brought a passion for youth leadership development and years of experience with Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), having participated in the program as a student and served as a counselor for approximately seven years.
RYLA is a Rotary-sponsored leadership development program that helps young people build confidence, develop leadership skills, and discover the power of teamwork and service.
Shortly after joining Rotary, Morris met with District Governor Ryan Henry to discuss their RYLA experience. That conversation led to an invitation to chair the program for District 6560, which encompasses much of Central Indiana and includes approximately 40 Rotary clubs.
There was just one challenge: the district’s RYLA program had recently fallen through, and Morris would need to rebuild it.
They embraced the opportunity, taking the lead in reviving the program and bringing together Rotary clubs, volunteers, and students to make it a success.
The results speak for themselves. RYLA 2026 welcomed 40 students sponsored by eight Rotary clubs, giving young people across Central Indiana an opportunity to develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
And Morris is already looking ahead, with a goal of expanding RYLA 2027 to 60 students sponsored by 14 clubs.
“When I stepped up to revive the RYLA program, I just wanted to give young people hope and show them how they can be leaders too,” Morris said. “To be named Rotarian of the Year after just over a year in Rotary is a huge honor, and it’s still hard to believe! With the full support of the district behind me, I’m more determined than ever to continue expanding RYLA, so even more students across Central Indiana have the opportunity to grow like I did when I was in their shoes.”
Building confidence, character, and connections
Held each spring at Camp Tecumseh, a YMCA camp in Brookston, Indiana, District 6560’s RYLA program brings students together for an immersive weekend of leadership development.
From Friday morning through Sunday afternoon, participants take part in interactive leadership sessions led by Rotarians, indoor team-building activities, and hands-on outdoor challenges.
The experience focuses on eight essential leadership traits:
- Planning
- Problem-solving
- Integrity
- Self-esteem
- Decision-making
- Communication
- Trust
- Teamwork
Through these experiences, students discover their individual leadership styles, build confidence, and learn how to work collaboratively toward shared goals.
For Morris, who experienced RYLA firsthand as a young person, the opportunity to provide that same experience to a new generation made the work especially meaningful.
Living our commitment to community
Morris’s dedication to service extends beyond RYLA. As an active member of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, they also participate in the club’s Community Service and Environment & Beautification committees, supporting projects that strengthen the community.
Their recognition reflects a commitment to service that aligns closely with Barnes Dennig’s values.
“The team at Barnes Dennig is thrilled to learn that Bec Morris was awarded Rotarian of the Year for the Rotary Club district of Central Indiana,” said Jay Rammes, Managing Director of Barnes Dennig. “One of our Firm’s core principles is giving back to the communities we serve. We view this as a responsibility given all these communities have done for us. We could not be happier or prouder of Bec’s service!”
As Morris continues working to expand RYLA’s reach across Central Indiana, their leadership is helping create new opportunities for students to discover their potential and make a difference in their own communities.
Congratulations, Bec, on this well-deserved recognition and for helping build a better, brighter future for the next generation of leaders!
