Every year, Tunkhannock Rotary sponsors a student to attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Program. The program was developed by the late actor, Hugh O’Brian. This year the gathering was at Shippensburg University on May 17 – May 22.
At the June 7 Tunkhannock Rotary meeting, the Club heard from HOBY participants Emily Stanski and Elizabeth DeMarco, who will be one of our outbound short-term exchange students this summer. The top 10% of their class was invited to apply. They wrote an essay on their leadership qualities and two winners were selected.
Emily and Elizabeth talked about their experiences at HOBY, where they assessed and then enhanced their leadership skills with seminars, games, cheers and participation in community-based programs.
On Friday, they went to the Harrisburg Capital building and heard from a former HOBY Ambassador, Rep. Kate Klunk, who is in the legislature. They were divided into groups and into minority and majority parties and considered different laws. They had a mock legislative session in the house and voted on the proposed laws.
Sunday was a wrap up and life after HOBY. They were challenged to do 100 hr of service in the year following their HOBY to win awards for different levels of service.
They both felt that the best part of the program was the service projects and meeting kids from other parts of the state.
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Emily Stanski (left) and Elizabeth DeMarco