IWU Welcomes HOBY Student Leaders, Introduces Scholarship

June 8, 2018

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Approximately 160 high school student leaders will converge on the Illinois Wesleyan University campus to participate in the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Seminar June 14-17.

In conjunction with hosting the annual seminar for students in the Illinois Central South region (ILCS), the University is also introducing a $1,000 scholarship – available beginning in the fall of 2019 – for HOBY alumni.

Founded in 1958 by the late Hugh O’Brian, HOBY is an international organization that instills leadership skills and community awareness in over 10,000 high school students annually. One of the organization’s annual events includes a three-day seminar, in which rising juniors will explore personal leadership, group leadership, and ultimately, societal leadership.

These top civic-minded students – many of whom received nominations from their teachers and administrators – will pay a visit to IWU as participants in the seminar. The students are challenged to use their leadership qualities to give back to their local communities upon completion of the seminar, which resulted in over 2,500 logged service hours from ILCS students last year.

In addition to hosting the seminar, Illinois Wesleyan will offer a $1,000 scholarship to any HOBY alumni who applies, is accepted, and attends IWU starting in the fall of 2019. Students must list HOBY on their applications for admission in either the activities section or in the personal statement to be considered.

By extending support for these young leaders, Illinois Wesleyan will give even more students the opportunity to put their skills from HOBY into action as student leaders on the University campus.

For additional information, please contact Admissions Counselor Kasey Evans: kevans1@iwu.edu.

By Rachel McCarthy ’21