IWU Welcomes Back HOBY Student Leaders

June 13, 2019

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Approximately 140 high school student leaders from across Central and Southern Illinois this year will converge on the Illinois Wesleyan University campus to participate in the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Seminar June 13-16.

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.

The student will be participating in a service project in which they will be packing food at Midwest Food Bank. Following that, they will participate in a Hunger Banquet to help them understand food insecurity. Each student will be tasked with completing 100 hours of service in the year following their experience.

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

                                                                                                                                                           Katie Fata '22