Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

House To Represent nevada County At HOBY Congress

Four outstanding high school students will represent Arkansas in the nation's capitol this week at the Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) World Leadership Congress (WLC).

Created by veteran actor Hugh O'Brian, television's Wyatt Earp, HOBY affords 300 high school students from every state in the union and over 30 nations a unique opportunity to gain leadership training by meeting in question-and-answer sessions with America's top decision makers. George Washington University is hosting the 2000 WLC July 21-29.

This year's delegates from Arkansas are Johnathan House of Nevada High School at Rosston; Lynn Keathlye of Pulaski Academy, Little Rock; Andrae Anderson of Parkview Arts/Science Magnet High School, Little Rock; and Susan Waits of Batesville High School, Batesville.

"The HOBY experience inspires potential achievers while they still have two years of school left, to redirect themselves and motivate their classmates to take an active role in America's incentive system and technology," said O'Brian. "The vibrant campus of George Washington University, situated in the heart of the nation's capital, is the perfect place to conduct our 30th WLC and a unique opportunity for participants to meet and engage in questions and answer sessions with distinguished world leaders."

HOBY's annual selection process for high school sophomores began last September when over 14,500 public and private highs schools selected their outstanding sophomores to attend one of 85 three-day HOBY leadership seminars held in every state each spring.

In turn one male and one female student was selected from each site to attend the upcoming Superbowl' of seminars, HOBY's all-expense-paid eight-day World Leadership Conference. Funding and in kind gifts for the conference were raised by HOBY staff and volunteers through corporations and community service organizations. No money was requested or received from any government source.

The theme for this year's WLC is Technology in the 21st Century.' Topic to be covered include leadership, science and technology, e-commerce, space exploration, environmental issues, medical ethics, volunteerism, education, working women and journalism.

Distinguished speakers for the event include ABC News senior reporter Sam Donaldson and U.S. Representatives Sam Gejdenson and Duncan Hunter. In addition to participating in seminars, students will also participate in community service and will tour major Washington attractions, including the White House, U.S. Capitol, Newseum, Kennedy Center Smithsonian, Ford's Theater, FBI, Naval Research Laboratory and major monuments.