From left, Doug McKain; Susan McKain; Rya McKain, Rotary Student of the Month for May; and Rotary Club Member Dennis Stuckey.
Rya McKain is Lititz Rotary Student of the Month for May 2026
The Lititz Rotary Club recognized Rya McKain as Student of the Month at its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, held at the Lititz Springs Inn. Rya lives in Lititz with her parents, Susan and Doug McKain, and is a senior at Warwick High School.
Rya is an exceptional student whose accomplishments span academics, music, athletics, leadership, and community service. Among her many academic achievements, she was named Grand Champion of the 2024 Warwick Science Fair for her research involving plastic-degrading mushrooms. She also earned first place in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the 2024 North Museum Science and Engineering Fair (NMSEF).
Rya has earned numerous additional honors throughout high school, including being a Carson Scholarship recipient, a HOBY Leadership Conference participant, and a seven-time state winner in the Dorothy Sutton Piano Festival. She has also earned Bronze and Gold recognition on the National German Exam, with the Gold Award placing her among the top 10 percent of test takers worldwide. In addition, she earned a perfect score on the Assessment of Civic Knowledge and was recognized as Quiz Bowl’s “Best and Fairest” participant.
Rya is an active member of several honor societies at Warwick High School. She serves as Secretary of the National Honor Society, National German Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and National History Honor Society. She is also a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Science Honor Society.
Her involvement extends well beyond academics. Rya has been a Girl Scout since first grade, serves as a Link Crew leader who mentors incoming freshmen, volunteers as a Book Buddies reader, and is a volunteer tour guide at Wheatland, the home of President James Buchanan. She also serves as a German I Teacher Assistant, tutors German students, and works as a server assistant at Beccafico.
Music and athletics have also played major roles in Rya’s high school experience. She has studied piano for 14 years, plays viola in the orchestra, and sings alto in choir. She has participated in Quiz Bowl for four years, serving as team captain for three years, and appeared on WGAL’s “Brain Busters” quiz program. Athletically, Rya has competed in track and field for six years, earning league- and district-level medals in the 4x100-meter relay, 100-meter dash, and 200-meter dash, while also competing at the state level. She has additionally participated in tennis and cross country during high school.
Rya also participated in the GAPP student exchange program with a partner school in Bavaria, Germany, and attended Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, as part of an international award-winning Future City team.
Following graduation, Rya plans to attend the London School of Economics and Political Science to study Politics and International Relations.
The Lititz Rotary Club is proud to recognize Rya McKain for her outstanding academic achievements, leadership, service, and wide-ranging contributions to her school and community.