About Us

Central PA HOBY and the Central Pennsylvania Leadership Seminar were created in 1978 after Hugh O’Brian contacted the Pennsylvania Jaycees — a service organization that introduces young adults to community service and leadership opportunities – and asked them to sponsor a seminar in this region of the state.

Since then, the Central Pennsylvania Leadership Seminar has grown to consistently serve more than 250 sophomores each year from public and private high schools throughout Central Pennsylvania. Students from the following counties are invited to participate each year:

Adams, Bedford, Bradford, Carbon, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, Wyoming, York

In addition, HOBY sponsors Community Leadership Workshops for first year students, and alumni programming for high school juniors and seniors, which includes national programs such as the World Leadership Congress and the Advanced Leadership Academy, and local service opportunities in communities throughout the region.

HOBY is a lifelong leadership learning opportunity. Our Corporate Board and Seminar planning committee are comprised of 100% volunteers. Our staff includes many HOBY alumni who continue to develop their leadership skills and experiences and give back to the next generation of emerging leaders — our alumni Ambassadors volunteer their time as committee members, staff, speakers and facilitators.

Central PA HOBY is the local affiliate of Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership. For more than 50 years, HOBY has been known as the nation’s premier youth leadership development organization. Founded in 1958 by Hugh O’Brian, HOBY’s mission is to provide lifelong opportunities that empower individuals to achieve their highest potential. O’Brian set out to help young people make a difference and become positive catalysts for change — in the home, school, workplace, and community. Now, with more than 475,000 alumni leading the way, HOBY is respected worldwide for its youth leadership programs.