Norwich High School students Kyra Brunick-Davis and Madison Sheeley were selected to represent NHS at the 2023 Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH — Two students, Kyra Brunick-Davis and Madison Sheeley, were selected to represent Norwich High School at the 2023 Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar.

Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership was founded in 1958 and has since been an acclaimed youth leadership program. The program is endorsed by the American Association of School Administrators,

National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Parents Teachers Association, Council of Chief State School Officers, National School Boards Association and America's Promise.

The program has educated and motivated more than 375,000 high school students since its inception in 1958.

According to HOBY, some of the positive outcomes of participating in a HOBY program include:

Improved critical thinking skills. HOBY encourages students to evaluate issues from a critical perspective by engaging students with multiple viewpoints regarding important issues. HOBY believes effective leaders are those who make informed decisions.

Enhanced leadership skills. HOBY's phase-based curriculum, question-and-answer sessions with community leaders, small group discussions, interactive activities, hands-on service-learning experiences and opportunities to engage in leadership roles enable participants to better understand leadership and begin to identify their own particular leadership strengths.

Developing goal-setting skills. The HOBY Leadership Seminar is geared to encourage students to see leadership as a life goal worth pursuing. Participants are encouraged to identify personal goals to commit to achieving within one or more of the six months that follow.

Participants are challenged to complete 100 hours of volunteer service in their communities and to create service opportunities for others through HOBY's Leadership for Service program.

-Information provided by Norwich High School