2018 group photo
2020 Virtual group photo
2015 group photo
2016 group photo
2017 group photo
2019 group photo

What is HOBY?

HOBY Maryland and Maryland Leadership Seminar, Inc. were formed in 1979 after Hugh O’Brian contacted the Maryland Jaycees, a service organization that continues to offer invaluable support. From our humble beginnings with 46 high schools represented, our annual leadership seminar now includes sophomores from over 250 public and private schools across the state. Likewise, our all-volunteer planning committee and staff reflects the growing involvement of our HOBY alumni — more and more former Ambassadors are volunteering their time as committee members, staff, speakers, and facilitators.

Our students are ambassadors for their schools, and referred to as such. After attending the Leadership Seminar or a Community Leadership Workshop (CLeW), Ambassadors return home with a greater sense of purpose. They create a ripple effect, focusing their enthusiasm and new set of resources to help make their schools and communities better places.

Our Mission:

To inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation.

For over four decades, HOBY Maryland has inspired young people to make a difference and become catalysts for positive change in all areas of their lives.

Our Core Values:

VOLUNTEERISM

The heart and soul of our organization. We recognize and value what volunteers can achieve by working together. We believe our programs positively impact our volunteer leadership who are the heart of our programs as much as the youth and communities we serve.

INTEGRITY

Forms the foundation of our organization. We grow our organization based on interactions that promote mutual trust and respect with our stakeholders and partners. We strive to ensure the highest level of organizational effectiveness by continually reviewing our programs and processes to improve quality and efficiency.

EXCELLENCE

We strive to continually raise our programs to new levels of excellence. We encourage entrepreneurship and innovation in business, education, and social responsibility. We develop creative solutions to address challenges and to utilize opportunities. We believe that leadership skills can and should be continually improved and refined.

DIVERSITY

We value and embrace diversity. We seek out views that reflect all walks of life and reflect those views in our programs. We are sensitive to the special needs and diverse backgrounds of individuals, our students, volunteers and our communities. We give all individuals an equal opportunity to be heard and to benefit from our programs.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

We value community partnerships. We recognize the importance of working with community organizations to strengthen our programs by helping us provide all young people the opportunity to participate in and benefit from a HOBY program. We value the input we receive from our community partners and strive to work together cooperatively and constructively for the betterment of all.

Leadership Opportunities

While our annual Leadership Seminar is our flagship event, HOBY offers additional leadership opportunities. Ambassadors will have the opportunity to network with other students, learn how to participate in conversations that challenge their perspectives, and gain knowledge that they can take back to their schools and communities to use as leaders and agents of change.

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Community Leadership Workshops

Community Leadership Workshops (CLeWs) are one-day leadership workshops for high school freshmen. They are developed and implemented by HOBY alumni along with volunteers from local businesses and civic groups. Thanks to committed donors and volunteers, students can attend a CLeW at no cost. CLeW planning committees invite high schools directly to nominate freshmen to attend.

CLeW particpants have the opportunity to:

  • Explore leadership as it pertains to volunteerism, government, education, and industry from the perspective of local community leaders;
  • Learn to form diverse relationships with adult professionals, volunteer mentors, and students with diverse leadership styles and backgrounds;
  • Participate in activities to explore and exercise leadership on personal and group levels; and
  • Conduct a community service project, putting leadership into action and implementing social change.

For more information, contact our CLeW Advisor.

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World Leadership Congress

Upon completing the Leadership Seminar, Ambassadors have the opportunity to attend HOBY’s next level of leadership programs known as the World Leadership Congress (WLC). The WLC is HOBY’s oldest program and the only one open to international students aged 15-17. The week-long intensive educational program most recently took place in Chicago, IL. The WLC brings together youth with demonstrated leadership potential to interact with accomplished professionals and influential leaders. Each year, approximately 450 students representing 20 countries attend this unique international program comprised of speakers, panels, interactive workshops, field trips, and more. HOBY’s student Ambassadors emerge from the WLC more mature individuals, cognizant of the world around them, and ready to make meaningful contributions to their communities.

Students from countries including Albania, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Korea, Sudan, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and many others attend and participate in this multicultural leadership experience.

Learn more about the WLC Register for the WLC

HOBY Maryland Corporate Board

What is the Board?

The HOBY Maryland Corporate Board governs the Maryland affiliate of Hugh O’Brian Youth, including its programs and events, such as the Maryland Leadership Seminar, CLeWs, and the Alumni Association. The responsibilities and duties of the Board include setting the direction of the organization, ensuring that the organization has the financial resources it needs, building up the assets of the organization, building connections and networking on behalf of the organization, representing the organization to the public, and providing oversight for the programs and activities of the organization. You can apply to join the HOBY Maryland Corporate Board.

How to Be Involved?

Our meetings are open! We meet approximately six times a year, bimonthly, and we would love to have you join us. We meet via Zoom, and you can email the Corporate Board President at president@hobymd.org for the link. If you are interested in being involved with the board in other capacities, please email the Corporate Board President.

2023–2024 Meeting Dates

  • August 1, 2023
  • October 3, 2023
  • December 19, 2023
  • February 27, 2024
  • April 16, 2024
  • June 11, 2024 (TBD)
  • August 13, 2024

2023–2024 Board Members

Link to: HOBY MD Corporate Board President

Aaron Bernstein

Corporate Board President

president@hobymd.org

Link to: HOBY MD Corporate Board Vice President

Robby May

Vice President
Link to: HOBY Maryland 2024 Leadership Seminar Chair

Natalie Gaudette

Leadership Seminar Chair

seminarchair@hobymd.org

Link to: HOBY MD Corporate Board Treasurer

Matthew Talley

Treasurer
Link to: HOBY MD Alumni Advisor

Alex Shockley

Alumni Advisor

alumni@hobymd.org

Link to: HOBY MD Corporate Board Secretary

Joe Wyrwas

Secretary
Link to: HOBY MD Past President

Carol Applegate

Past President
Link to: HOBY MD Director of Development

Tracy DeWinter

Director of Development
Link to: Director of Information Technology

Brandon House

Director of Information Technology
Link to: HOBY MD Director of Marketing & Communications

Emily Prechtl

Director of Marketing & Communications
Link to: HOBY MD Corporate Board Trustee

Christine Miloro

Trustee
Link to: HOBY MD Corporate Board Trustee

Inuri Abeysekara

Trustee
Link to: HOBY MD Corporate Board Trustee

Sydney King

Trustee
Link to: HOBY MD Corporate Board Trustee

Kisha Patel

Trustee
Link to: HOBY MD Corporate Board Trustee

Danielle Faulkner

Trustee

HOBY Maryland Awards History

  • 2019

    Outstanding Corporate Board

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

    Outstanding Alumni Association

    CLeW Certificate

  • 2018

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

    Outstanding Corporate Board

    Outstanding Alumni Association

    Excellent CLeW Award – Tracy Wertheimer

    Outstanding Director of Recruitment – Ryan Buggy

    Phi Sigma Pi Participation

    Recognition – Five Consecutive Years above Recruitment Goal

  • 2017

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

    Superior Corporate Board

    Outstanding Alumni Association

    Recognition – Five Consecutive Years Above Recruitment Goal

    Outstanding Website Award – Content – 2nd Place

    Certificate for Participation with Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity

  • 2016

    Superior Corporate Board

    Outstanding Director of Recruitment – Andrew Desrochers & Taylor Zickefoose

  • 2015

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

    Superior Corporate Board

    Outstanding Alumni Association

    Outstanding Director of Recruitment – Beth Awalt & Jason Ott

    Outstanding Website Award – Content – 3rd Place

  • 2014

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

    Superior Corporate Board

    Outstanding Director of Recruitment – Beth Awalt & Jason Ott

    Outstanding Website Award – Content – 3rd Place

    Outstanding Website Award – Design – 1st Place

  • 2013

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

    Outstanding Website – 2nd Place

    Outstanding Alumni Association

    Outstanding Director of Recruitment – Beth Awalt & Jason Ott

    Recognition: Advanced Leadership Academy Host Site

    Superior Corporate Board

  • 2012

    Outstanding Director of Recruitment – Jason Ott

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

    Outstanding Website – 2nd Place

    Recognition – National Topic: Bullying

    Superior Corporate Board

  • 2011

    Outstanding Director of Recruitment – Jason Ott

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

    Outstanding Website – 3rd Place

    Superior Corporate Board

    Volunteer of the Year – Aaron Bernstein

  • 2010

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

    Superior Corporate Board

  • 2009

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

    Outstanding Program Book – 2nd Place

    Superior Corporate Board

  • 2008

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

    Outstanding Alumni Advisor – Aaron Bernstein

    Outstanding Director of Recruitment – Maureen Stefanski

    Outstanding Program Book – 3rd Place

  • 2007

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

    Volunteer of the Year – Carol Applegate

  • 2006

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

  • 2005

    CLeW Outstanding Chair – Carol Applegate

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

    Volunteer of the Year – Brian Yee

  • 2004

    CLeW Outstanding Chair – Carol Applegate

    Outstanding Leadership Seminar

  • 2003

    Superior Leadership Seminar