Chittenango Leo Club Sponsors Oswego Seminar
(Chittenango, NY – June 2013) Lyndsey Becker, sponsored by the Chittenango Leo Club, recently attended the New York Central HOBY Site of the Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar held at SUNY Oswego May 31 through June 2.
Becker joined more than 100 other young leaders representing as many high schools from throughout the 16 counties in Central New York.
Becker, daughter of John and Antoinette Becker of Canastota, represented Chittenango High School.
HOBY Leadership Seminars bring together a select group of high school sophomores from public and private high schools to interact with groups of distinguished leaders in business, government, education and the professions to discuss present and future issues. The goal is to provide the youths a stimulating forum for learning about critical issues while broadening their understanding of their leadership potential and quest for self-development. HOBY leaders are also challenged to return to their communities to perform at least 100 hours of community service within 12 months following the Seminar.
Since HOBY’s founding, the goal of each seminar is to provide a catalyst to lifelong leadership development that empowers individuals to achieve their highest potential. As the Ambassadors are exposed to new ideas and engage in challenging topics, HOBY hopes to illustrate how to constructively think and discuss complex issues with individuals from various backgrounds and beliefs. The goal is to show the Ambassadors how to think rather than what to think. Since 1958 HOBY has been a part of more than 375,000 students lives, many of whom continue to volunteer on HOBY seminar planning committees, in their local communities, and schools to keep the HOBY spirit alive.
Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership was established in 1958 by the popular actor Hugh O’Brian following a visit to Africa where he was inspired by a meeting with Dr. Albert Schweitzer. “One of the things Schweitzer said to me was that the most important thing in education was to teach young people to think for themselves,” O’Brian said. “From that inspiration, and with the support of others who believe in youth and the American dream, I started HOBY to seek out, recognize, and develop outstanding leadership potential among our nation’s youth.”