Index of University Press Releases

Nov. 8, 2007

DWU to host 2008 Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar

MITCHELL – More than 100 high school sophomores from across South Dakota will attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar June 12-15 at Dakota Wesleyan University.

Students are chosen based on demonstrated leadership and potential for continued leadership growth. HOBY is a non-profit organization that is committed to South Dakota’s youth.

HOBY Leadership Seminars bring together a select group of high school sophomores with groups of distinguished leaders in business, government, education and the professions to discuss current and future issues. The goal is to provide the youth with a stimulating forum for learning about critical issues while broadening their understanding of their leadership potential and quest for self-development. In addition to the educational activities, HOBY SD will perform community service throughout Mitchell.

HOBY 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. I founded HOBY based on his comment that ‘the most important thing in education is teaching young people to think for themselves.’ Our thrust is to teach them how to think, not what to think, and what the thinking process is.”

For more information, visit www.hobysd.org.