HOBY Maryland Annual Seminar

The 2025 Maryland Leadership Seminar took place June 5–8 at Towson University in Towson, Maryland.

Our annual seminar teaches high school sophomores the importance of personal, group, and societal-level service leadership through a combination of panels, keynote speakers, facilitated small groups and peer discussions, simulations, and fun hands-on activities. Our curriculum adheres to HOBY National guidelines and includes topics such as entrepreneurship, diversity, education, and volunteerism.

We also complete a site-wide service project; we’ve partnered with Rise Against Hunger since 2024 to provide packaged meals to communities high on the Global Hunger Index.

All of the hard work and intensive learning is balanced with activities dedicated solely to fun and teambuilding, including an Ambassador Talent Showcase and a dance/game night.

See photos from past seminars

A typical seminar weekend includes:

Welcome to HOBY & Towson University
Facilitated small group discussions
Personal Leadership Introduction, Keynote, Activity, and Reflection
Group Leadership Introduction, Keynote, Activity, and Reflection
Social Responsibility Introduction, Keynote, Service Activity, and Reflection
Gratitude Activity, such as thank-you notes
Social Activities, including our Talent Show and Dance
Closing Ceremony

View our most recent program booklet

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to attend HOBY Maryland?

HOBY Maryland is open to current 10th-grade students who are selected by their high schools and community leaders based on leadership potential, service, and character. If you are a student interested in attending, talk to your school counselor about whether your school participates. We also periodically host Community Leadership Workshops (CLeWs), one-day mini HOBY days for 9th-grade students. To stay up to date about our next CLeW, email recruitment@hobymd.org.

How do I register my student for HOBY Maryland?

High Schools: HOBY HQ will send an email to School Nominators with their School ID and instructions for registering students. Schools can select one (1) Ambassador to represent their school and a second Ambassador to serve as an alternate. HOBY Maryland will reach out to schools and students on the alternate list once we confirm space and volunteer capacity. Students should be registered by our December 12th Early Bird Deadline to lock in the $260 Registration Fee. Students registered after December 12th will incur a registration fee of $360. For more information, visit the HOBY HQ Nomination Page.

Parents: If your school has a HOBY selection process, students are expected to participate in that process if they are interested in being considered for a spot at the HOBY Maryland seminar. If you are not sure whether or not your school participates, families may reach out to us at recruitment@hobymd.org to confirm. If a school does not participate, the student will be invited to register, if space allows.

What if my school hasn’t nominated anyone?

If your school does not participate or hasn’t nominated a student, reach out to recruitment@hobymd.org to learn more about the community nomination process.

How much does it cost to attend HOBY Maryland?

Students registered by the December 12th Early Bird Deadline pay a registration fee of $260. Students registered after the Early Bird Deadline pay a registration fee of $360.

When and where is HOBY MD 2026? How do I get there?

The exact date and location for our 2026 seminar are to be confirmed. Since 2022, HOBY Maryland has taken place in the first weekend of June at Towson University, just north of Baltimore City.

What should I bring to seminar?

At minimum, Ambassadors should pack comfortable, school appropriate clothing & closed-toe shoes, bedding (twin-size sheets or sleeping bag) and pillow, towel & toiletries, water bottle, notebook and pen, any medications (must be disclosed ahead of time).

A full packing list will be emailed to participants before the seminar.

Where do Ambassadors sleep? Who supervises them during seminar?

Ambassadors stay in supervised and secured dorms on campus. There is always a staff member nearby.

For the entirety of seminar, all Ambassadors are supervised by trained volunteers, including facilitators and TAs (college and high school students), many of whom are HOBY alumni themselves. All adults undergo background checks and receive risk management training.

What if my student has medical, dietary, or accessibility needs?

We accommodate a variety of needs at HOBY to ensure that every Ambassador can experience our programming to the fullest. Please indicate any requirements on the registration form and contact mia@hobymd.org with questions or concerns.

What is WLC (World Leadership Congress)?

After HOBY Maryland, students can apply to attend HOBY’s international leadership event, the World Leadership Congress, held each summer in the U.S. It brings together HOBY Ambassadors from across the country and the globe. You can learn more about WLC on HOBY National’s dedicated webpage here.

How do I volunteer at HOBY Maryland 2026?

All volunteer applications for high school volunteers will be posted on our Contribute page and on social media channels. You can read more about the specific application process here.

If you are in high school, email teamalumni@hobymd.org to be added to the mailing list or to ask any questions.

If you have graduated from high school, email facilitation@hobymd.org for any questions.

The Social Change Model of Leadership

HOBY teaches the social change model of leadership to its participants and volunteers. This model enhances student learning and development through self-knowledge (understanding of one’s own talents and values) and leadership competence (the capacity to mobilize oneself and others) in order to facilitate positive social change.

High school sophomores are chosen because their age is critical in focusing on future goals and forming opinions for adulthood. They have the opportunity to create a “ripple effect” from their HOBY experience in their remaining high school years and beyond.

The basic premises of this model are

That leadership is a process, rather than a position.
To promote the values of equity, social justice, self-knowledge, personal empowerment, collaboration, citizenship, and service.
That service is a powerful vehicle for developing student leadership capabilities in a collaborative environment.

Three Perspectives

High Since this approach is embedded in collaboration and concerned with fostering social change, the model examines leadership development from three different perspectives:

The Individual

To foster and develop personal leadership qualities in those who participate; consider the personal qualities that are most supportive of group functioning and positive social change.

The Group

To design a collaborative leadership development process not only to facilitate the development of the desired individual qualities, but also to affect positive social change.

The Community/Society

To direct the leadership development activity towards a social end; to consider kinds of service activities that are the most effective in energizing the group and in developing desired personal qualities in the individual; to emphasize the responsibility of leaders to contribute to positive change.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The SDGs, developed and adopted by 195 countries (including the United States), represent a universal agreement to raise the conditions of the world for everyone and set a vision for a world free of poverty, hunger, disease, and want.

In 2019, the HOBY Board of Trustees made an organizational commitment to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into our seminar curriculum, with the goal to push today’s students into becoming active, conscientious world citizens by thinking critically about society’s issues.

Recruitment

Each September, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership sends nomination materials to all public and private high schools in the United States. Each school selects an outstanding sophomore, based on their leadership potential, and nominates that student to represent their school at their state seminar.

HOBY Maryland registration will reopen in September 2025. As part of our early bird special, we invite schools to register their students as Ambassadors for $250 each until December 13th, 2025, after which registration fees will increase to $350 per Ambassador. Sometimes this fee is paid by the parent.

For more information on participating in HOBY programs, contact our recruitment team (recruitment@hobymd.org).

The all-volunteer Maryland committee raises the state seminar expenses for room and board, copies and postage, and program supplies from generous sponsorships from the private sector, service organizations, and individuals. Women’s Clubs, Jaycees, Kiwanis, and Optimists financially sponsor individual schools to the seminar.

Our 2025 Donors

HOBY Maryland has been developing youth leaders since 1979, and we can’t do it without our dedicated and generous sponsors.

Silver Level Sponsors ($2,700+)

First United Bank & Trust (Community Dreams Foundation)
Frederick Womans Civic Club
Fort Smallwood Optimist Club
Geppert, McMullen, Paye & Getty
GFWC Woman’s Club of Laurel
GFWC Woman’s Club of Linthicum Heights, Inc.
Greater Jacksonville Optimists
Greater Waldorf Jaycees
Harford Mutual Insurance Group
Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home
Hereford Optimist Club
Jennifer Jordan
Joe Wyrwas
Jr. Woman’s Club of Westminster
Kent Island Optimists Club
Kilby’s Inc.
Kiwanis Club of Crofton
Kiwanis Club of Frederick
Kiwanis Club of Mount Airy

Kiwanis Club of Rockville
Kiwanis Club of Towson-Timonium
KSQUARED Technology Consulting
Law Office of Lilian Rodriguez LLC
Loch Raven Optimists
Lothian Ruritan Club
Melwood
Michael Specht
MD JCI Senate Inc
Monette Bailey
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Walsh
National Philanthropic Trust
Ocean City / Berlin Optimist Club
Old Dominion Electric Cooperative
Optimist Club of Annapolis
Optimist Club of Frederick
Optimist Club of Mechanicsville
Optimist Club of Salisbury MD
Optimist Club of Solomons
Paul Eason – Lawyer

Pryor Financial Services LLC
Randy’s Crew
Salisbury Jaycees Foundation
Seaside Plumbing
Shore Gourmet
The Jen Holden Group of Compass
The Law Office of Stephanie Darling
The Law Offices of Sue A. Greer, P.C.
The Optimist Club of St. Maries
Thurman Page Law
TransTechSol LLC
Wais Vogelstein Forman Koch & Norman LLC
Wancowicz & Associates, P.A.

Additional Donors

Aaron Bernstein
Cambridge Rotary Club
Cecil County Board of Realtors
Chick-Fil-A Gaithersburg
Chipotle – North East
Christy Applegate
Costco – Gaithersburg
Emily Prechtl
Find Your Purpose
GFWC Joppatowne Woman’s Club
GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Pocomoke City
His Hope Ministries
Hollywood-Leonardtown Optimist Club
Jo Benson Fogel PA
Junior Women’s Civic Club of Cumberland
Kalynn Stoner
KD Paint Party
Kiwanis Club of Crofton
Kiwanis Club of Westminster
Kiwanis Next Generation e-Club

Law Office of Robin Rucker Gaillard LLC
Lori Parks
Matt Smith
Matthew Talley
Mia Lucas
My Neighbors Foundation
Natalie Gaudette
Noodles & Co – Frederick
Olaoluwadeji Jones
Pocomoke Junior Women’s Club
Quincy CFO LLC
Rachel Moon
Ramy Fayed
Ready Set Swim
Rebecca Riddervold
Robby May
Ryan Trout
Teri L. Branch
Timonium Optimist Foundation
The Woman’s Club of Dundalk

The Woman’s Club of Perry Hall, Inc.
Wegmans – Germantown
Western District Juniors (Centennial Club of Western District)
Western Maryland Jaycees
Wicomico Woman’s Club