For Counselors/Teachers

Selection Process for Schools

In September, HOBY mails its Sophomore Selection Packet to every public, private and charter high school in the United States inviting them to select and register students to attend their U.S. State HOBY Leadership Seminar. The Nebraska HOBY Leadership Seminar generally takes place the weekend following Memorial Day, with each school sending a sophomore representative to attend. Schools are asked to determine their annual representatives and register the students online. If your school did not receive the packet this year, you may still select and register a student.

Choosing Your Ambassador

To select your school’s representative, HOBY asks that you first promote the program to the entire sophomore class. Leadership ability surpasses race, ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic status, so all sophomores should be considered in selecting your HOBY representative. You may distribute fliers, put up posters, make announcements to the student body, hold an assembly, and/or encourage all teachers affiliated with the sophomore class to mention the program to their students. Your school’s representatives from previous years are great for leading this effort to promote HOBY and can share their own experiences with the current sophomores. Encourage all 10th graders to learn more about HOBY by visiting www.hoby.org.

Refer all interested candidates to a specific school counselor who will lead the selection process. Your school may choose to do a face-to-face interview about the student’s desire to represent the school, an essay contest about leadership, or create your own creative idea! If you choose to do an essay, you may provide a topic, such as, “In 75 to 100 words, please describe the most rewarding and challenging aspect of being a leader in your school and community.”

Narrow your search to students with demonstrated or potential leadership ability, exhibiting one or more of the following traits:

– Outstanding oral and/or written communication skills
– Critical and/or creative thinking
– Creative problem solving
– Strong decision-making skills
– Sensitivity to the needs or concerns of others
– Charismatic personality (others gravitate towards him or her)
– Courage to speak out for one’s beliefs
– Courage to challenge authority
– Participation in community service activities

It is up to each school to select the students who will make the most of their HOBY experience.

Registering Your Ambassador

Collect student information needed for registration by having your selected student complete the HOBY Registration Worksheet. Then register your student online using your HOBY school ID and password. Enter all of the information from the completed worksheet into our secure online registration.

If you need your school’s HOBY ID and password, please send an email to registration@hoby.org with the subject line “School ID Request” and include the following information:

– High school name
– School’s complete mailing address with city, state, and zip code
– School contact name
– School contact’s position (i.e. School Counselor, Principal, etc.)
– School contact’s phone number

Your school ID and password will be sent electronically to your school contact. Please secure the confidentiality of the school ID and password as only school personnel should register students online.

Fees and Costs

HOBY volunteers help fundraise throughout the year to help lower the cost for the first student from each school to attend.  Please refer to the school registration email you received to learn about the seminar fee schedule. The only other expenses students are responsible for is transportation to and from the seminar and personal spending money for optional photos and souvenirs.  The registration fee covers liability insurance coverage, volunteer/staff training, public relations, marketing materials, communications, technology and software for HOBY’s online registration, website development and maintenance and staff support to the volunteers.

You may pay online with a credit card or Purchase Order, or mail a check. If your school is unable to pay the fee, please consider a Booster/Activity club, the PTA, or other creative options in the community for sponsorship. Finally, parents of the selected student can elect to pay the fee. Please note that your representative is not officially accepted until the registration fee is received. You may also print an invoice, a copy of the registration, or a credit card receipt during the online process. Click here to Register Online.

Participating Schools

Alliance High School
Ansley Public School
Arlington High School
Beatrice High School
Bellevue East High School
Bennington Public High School
Blair High School
Blue Hill Community Schools
Callaway High School
Central Valley High School
Chadron High School
Columbus High School
Concordia Jr.-Sr. High School
Creighton Community Schools
Creighton Preparatory
Douglas County West High School
Duchesne Academy
East Butler High School
Elkhorn High School
Elkhorn North High School
Elkhorn South High School
Emerson-Hubbard High School
Eustis-Farnam High School
Falls City High School
Falls City Sacred Heart
Fremont Sr High School
Friend High School
Gordon-Rushville High School
Grand Island Central Catholic
Grand Island Sr. High School
Harry A. Burke High School
Holdrege Sr High School
Humphrey High School
Kearney Sr. High School
Lewiston High School
Lincoln Christian High School
Lincoln Lutheran High School
Lincoln Northeast High School
Louisville High School
Lutheran High Northeast
Marian High School
McCool Junction High School
Mercy High School
Millard North High School
Millard South High School
Millard West High School
Mount Michael Benedictine H.S.
Newman Grove High School
North Bend Central High School
Oakland-Craig High School
Omaha Northwest High School
Palmyra High School
Papillion-LaVista South High School
Pender High School
Plattsmouth High School
Ponca High School
Potter-Dix High School
Raymond Central High School
Seward High School
South Sioux City Comm. H.S.
Southern High School
Southwest Jr./Sr. High School
Springfield Platteview High School
St. Cecilia High School
St. Patrick High School
St. Paul Public School
Summerland Public at Clearwater
Summerland Public School at Orchard
Wayne High School
Weeping Water High School
Loup City High School
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