At the recent business meeting last week, the Colton Woman’s Club presented four “HOBY Awards” (Hugh O’Brien Youth), to local high school sophomores, Adrian Cuevas, Regina Flores, Jesiah Luna, and Anahi Nuño.
The “HOBY Awards,” named after actor Hugh O’Brien, was established in 1958, to recognize students who excelled in school academically, and who demonstrated leadership potential. At that time, Hugh O’Brien was serving in communities abroad with the well-known humanitarian and writer, Albert Schweitzer when they were talking about recruiting America’s youth for potential leadership/missionary opportunities in foreign countries. Later that year, Hugh O’Brien went on to establish a similar youth program in the United States, starting in Los Angeles. Since then, over 500,000 students have benefited from the “HOBY Award” program.
Currently, this award not only included public recognition, but provides a scholarship at a Summer Youth Leadership camp, and provides support services for attending college. In order to qualify for this award the students needed to be sophomores in high school, write an essay, meet and confer with their school counselor, be screened by the Colton Woman’s Club, and finally be interviewed with the CWC scholarship committee. As aforementioned, the awards were announced and presented at the May 13 Colton Woman’s Club meeting.
“I’m excited to be able to go to this leadership camp,” exclaimed Anahi Nuño, one of the HOBY award recipients. Her mother Ana Nuño explained that this camp will help her daughter learn about the University of San Diego which is one of the universities on her priority list of colleges. Another HOBY recipient, Adrian Cuevas says that she is looking to “experience different things,” so that she’ll be able to “see a better pathway forward.” Jesiah Luna believes this HOBY award will provide him with the opportunity to gain experience, and “to develop a better understanding of what it means to be a leader.” Regina Flores sees this camp as a “good opportunity” for taking a look at the UC San Diego campus. While at camp she also looks to improve her public speaking skills and focus on ways to be a stronger leader.
We would certainly like to congratulate these four outstanding students for their achievements and certainly wish them well at Leadership camp, and later on as they pursue their college educational goals. The Colton Woman’s Club has sponsored these scholarships for several years, usually selecting one from each of the local high schools. Their efforts are to be commended, and their support of local and school programs continues to be a light that drives the community spirit to greater heights. For more information about the Colton Woman’s Club and its programs please contact the President, Delma Ledesma @ 909-506-7496
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