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.

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.

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.

You can read our bylaws here.

2024–2025 Meeting Dates (6-9pm)

  • Thursday, October 17
  • Thursday, December 12
  • Thursday, February 6
  • Thursday, April 10
  • Saturday, June 7 (Time TBD – @ Seminar)
  • Thursday, August 14

2024–2025 Board Members

HOBY Maryland Awards History