Collin Bezely is HOBY recipient

SPRING VALLEY — Hall High School sophomore Collin Bezely has been selected by his peers and the school faculty to receive the 2009-10 HOBY Award. Bezely, son of Joe and Rhonda Bezely of Ladd, will attend a state leadership seminar this summer at the University of Illinois with other HOBY Award winners from around the state.

Throughout a three-day seminar, Bezely will interact with key leaders in media, politics and business in Illinois. Students attending this seminar will have the chance to ask these individuals questions and hear their plans for the future. HOBY representatives will also have the chance to speak with various representatives from different colleges. The weekend ends with a banquet and show, and the parents are invited to attend.

Bezely has been very active in student council, science club, French Club, football, basketball and track. He has volunteered for Relay for Life and at the Spring Valley Nursing Home.

The faculty nominates students for the honor. The top four names of nominees are then presented to the sophomore class to vote. The faculty and students vote according to the following criteria: outstanding oral/written communication skills, critical and/or creative thinking, creative problem solving, strong decision-making skills, sensitivity to the needs of others, charismatic personality, courage to speak out for one’s beliefs, courage to challenge authority and community service.

HOBY stands for Hugh O’Brian Youth Association. The HOBY seminar is a national program exclusively for high school sophomores. The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed this program on the NASSP National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 2009-10. The mission of HOBY is to seek out, recognize, and develop leadership potential commencing with high school sophomores. The expected outcomes of the seminar are for students attending to learn to better think critically; to enhance their leadership skills; to learn more about democracy, free enterprise and volunteerism; and to accept the risks of leadership.

The Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership program began in 1958 inspired by conversations with Dr. Albert Schweitzer. The program has grown with 13, sophomores attending one of the 89 seminars held throughout the US, Canada and Mexico in 1998