Three local students recently attended the Ohio-West Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar.
Chris Woessner, of Bowling Green High School, along with Hannah Ward and Erin Dennis, both of Eastwood
High School, joined more than 190 other young leaders representing as many high schools from throughout
northern and western Ohio.
The HOBY seminar was held Friday through Sunday at Ohio Northern University.
HOBY leadership seminars bring together a select group of high school sophomores 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.
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, he started HOBY to seek
out, recognize, and develop outstanding leadership potential among the nations youth.