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WHAT IS A HOBY LEADERSHIP SEMINAR
- Overview
- What kind of program is planned for the Utah Seminars?
- Why is the program limited to high-school sophmores?
- What will result from the Utah seminars?
- How are the students financially supported?
- What do HOBY alumni have to say about the seminar?
Overview
Each September, the National Association of Secondary School Principals sends nomination materials to all public and private high schools in the United States. Each school selects an outstanding sophomore, based on their leadership potential, and nominates that student to represent their school at the State Seminar held each Spring.
What kind of program is planned for the Utah Seminars?
All discussions and presentations will center around the themes: "America's Incentive System"—The system which motivates productive activity in our society; "Utah’s cultural future"—The Challenge of Growth and Diversity; "Advertising and Media"—Influencing Public Opinion; "Leadership"--Making a difference in Your School and Community; "Our Democratic Process"—Individual Freedom and Society; "Education"—Preparing for Tomorrow.
Nearly fifty outstanding adult leaders from business, government, science, education, and the professions will provided stimulating ideas through questions and answer discussion sessions and elbow-to-elbow conversations. In addition, HOBY "ambassadors" will participate in thought-provoking activities that will enhance their HOBY experience.
The emphasis will be on motivating the young people to make a positive contribution to their school and community and to be active, aware and responsible citizens.
Why is the program limited to high-school sophomores?
High School sophomores are chosen because their age is critical in focusing on future goals and forming opinions for adulthood. In addition, they have the opportunity to create a "ripple effect" from their HOBY experience in their remaining high school years.
What will result from the Utah seminars?
- A lifetime opportunity to spend time with significant leaders, both student and adult to raise their personal visions.
- One young man and one young woman from our seminar site will be selected to represent Utah at the week-long national World Leadership Congress in Washington D.C.
- HOBY alumni influence future potential leaders by assisting with subsequent HOBY seminars.
- A significant number of scholarships are offered.
- Inter-association with top students from students of most Utah high schools.
- Students are motivated to return to their high schools and share the HOBY experience with their classmates and community by conducting one-day Community Leadership Workshops (CLEW's) and a powerful year of self-directed leadership and service.
- HOBY alumni continue their learning through travel programs, alumni reunions, and leadership for service experiences.
How are the students financially supported?
It costs about $325 per sophomore for the three to four days of activities at the State Seminar at Aspen Grove, Utah. The Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Program is particularly concerned that the seminar not be a significant expense to the sophomores, their families, or their schools, so that students from all economic and social backgrounds have an equal opportunity to attend. Students are asked to pay $150 of the cost of the seminar, except in the case of financial need. All other student expenses, except travel costs, are paid by donations received from concerned citizens, civic organizations, corporate sponsors and foundations.
What do HOBY alumni have to say about the seminar?
. . . HOBY truly changed my life. . . Because of HOBY I got involved
with so many different things in this state. There were a lot of community
and school activities that I never would have thought of if I hadn't gone
to HOBY.. . I learned a lot about service and leadership from this CLEW
experience. . . In total I have done 390 logged in community service hours.
I have logged most of these hours in on http://www.hoby.org (a national
HOBY website). I know that the work you (HOBY) performed has changed so
many lives and as a recipient, I thank you whole heartedly. . ."
Elizabeth Flink, Taylorsville High
School, First Place Scholarship Winner
On
a personal note. HOBY is a great program. I enjoyed it when I attended
back in the late 80's. It was definitely one of those experiences that
helped me become who I am today. I thank the organization for that opportunity.
If it is at all possible I would like to present or help out at future
HOBY conferences. If this is possible please let me know. One always wants
to give back to something that gave them a lot.
Kristian Olsen, SUU Director of School
Relations, 1988 Ambassador, San Juan High School
"My
name is Nathan Waite, from Pine View High School in St. George, and I
attended the HOBY conference last summer. This weekend, I attended state
band at UVSC, and it brought back a lot of memories of that awesome experience.
. . . So I just want you to know that although I no longer have an active
part in HOBY, I feel its influence every day of my life. It has given
me a focus, brought me closer to my fellow men, and even strengthened
my relationship with my Father in Heaven. For that I thank you forever."
Nate Waite 1999 HOBY Ambassador
".
. . My various awards demonstrated my willingness to continue my goal
of changing others, bringing people to an understanding of leadership...The
support I have obtained from my parents, friends, peers and the Hugh O'Brian
Leadership Program, has thrust my willingness to proved a guaranteed path
for myself, and for others, to a reachable point. I will reach it. Through
these various experiences, an accomplished education of assistance was
earned. I believe that through the Hugh O'Brian Leadership Seminar, I
was offered a new confidence, an attitude to not only strive for my own
success, but for the success of others. . ."
Maryann S. Sampson, Murray High School
1999 Alumni, A Scholarship Winner
".
. .Ever since I attended the June 1999 HOBY Leadership Conference last
summer, I have had many different opportunities to provide service to
my community and my high school. One way I was able to develop my own
personal leadership skills while giving service to others was by serving
as my high school's 1999-2000 Key Club President. . . I have had the opportunity
to work extensively with my high school Key Club, as well as the Clearfield
Kiwanis Club. I have attended some Kiwanis dinners and been able to meet
many great community leaders. I was able to attend Key Club District Convention
in April 1999, and grew to learn so much more about Key Club, Kiwanis
Club and how the two organizations work together. I was able to use this
knowledge later on as I served as Key Club President. . ."
Michelle Stoker, Clearfield High School,
Second Place Scholarship Winner
"
. . . As a HOBY Ambassador, I learned many things that have been useful
in the application of service to my school and community. I have been
able to organize/help organize many activities due to the leadership I
gained at HOBY. I learned how to find projects that were needed by the
community or group involved, how to go about getting people actively involved,
and how to raise support for the cause. Through doing various service
projects for various groups/organizations, I gained a greater deal of
love and concern for my fellow man and an indescribable urge to do service
all the time. Through talking with friends and peers, I've found that
they feel the same way. It's an exhilaration! There's just not an appropriate
way to describe how you feel without underplaying such an awesome feeling.
It was amazing to see the gratitude they showed (in actual "service projects")
and how much younger kids truly do look up to you (in volunteer speaking,
etc), and feel that special feeling you get inside when you know you've
made a difference, whether it be to a great number of people or to a single
individual."
Brooke Wilde, South Summit High School,
A Scholarship Winner
Addressing the Provo Kiwanis Club
While thinking about what I should say today, I began thinking about myself when I went to HOBY, a whole year ago. I was quiet, insecure, and shy. I would never have been able to get up in front of people to say anything. I was shy because I didn’t know who I was or what made me special. I had no reason to believe that I was someone people should or would listen to.
But then, I went to HOBY. HOBY completely changed my view of myself. I remember Dave (Olpin) saying, "You are all leaders, every single one of you. It doesn’t matter how or why you are here. All that matters is that you are here."
At the HOBY conference, I started to realize things about myself. One day we were doing a leadership activity in which we had to imagine we were stranded in a remote place with limited supplies. We then had to rank those supplies in order of their importance to our survival. In this activity, we really had to think; not only about ourselves, but about everyone involved. While doing this activity, I suddenly thought, "Wait. We all have to speak up because we all have something to contribute." I realized that my ideas and thoughts were vital to our group’s success. I couldn’t just sit back and follow others. Because we all contributed that day, we completed the task successfully.
I also remember being told by many of the counselors at HOBY that we had enormous potential. Before then my potential had been a dormant hope in my mind. But the counselors at HOBY really seemed to believe that we all had the potential to change our school, community, nation and even the world. Even though I didn’t really believe that I could do all that, I began to think maybe, just maybe, they were right.
During this last year of my life, I have tried to meet my enormous potential. And in that process I have achieved things I never believed were possible for me. I began by trying to be kind to every person I met. I wanted them to feel their own dormant potential.
Later, I ran for student government, something I never thought I would do, and I won. Now I have the opportunity to improve my school.
I was elected mayor of Orem’s City Youth Council. In this position I get to plan and organize service projects to beautify and improve my community.
During fall semester, I had an incredible opportunity to serve our nation. I was selected to be one of thirty United States Senate Pages. As a Senate Page, I lived, worked, and went to school in Washington DC. As a Senate page, I worked on the Senate floor every day. I was there to see the legislative process in action. I was there for the Confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts. I attended the hearings for Justice Alito. I learned an incredible amount from my five months on the Senate floor. HOBY prepared me for this amazing experience by inspiring me to get involved in whatever I feel passionate about and to always ask the question that I want answered.
One panel at HOBY prepared me very well for the challenges I faced in Washington DC. As the only Senate page from Utah and the only one of LDS faith, the religious diversity panel taught me to accept others and how to best represent the morals and values of my faith.
Since HOBY I have worked tirelessly to improve myself and to reach my potential. In fact I will be going back to Washington DC, this summer, as one of two Girls Nation senators from Utah. There, I will have the opportunity to use all that I learned in order to function as a senator by writing a bill and passing legislation.
I love HOBY. HOBY is the reason I have had the drive to accomplish all that I have. The magic of HOBY is that it can take an ordinary sophomore in high school and inspire them to reach for the stars. I do believe that this program can change lives because it changed mine. I believe in this program so much that I returned as a junior counselor so that I could give back to the program that has given me so much. I know that I will continue to support HOBY and I hope you will too.
(She later went on to personally meet President George W. Bush).
Sarah Hamilton, Orem High School