Two students, Avery Paysinger and Stephaun Deem, recently represented Athens High School at the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar held at Troy University.

“During these three days, we went through 3 cycles of learning our leadership skills,” Paysinger said.

Deem said, “We started by learning different abilities that help us and help us learn how we personally use leadership.”

“Then we discussed how to take those specific skills and work them in groups with various leadership qualities,” Paysinger said. “Finally, we had a service portion, where we learned how to use our leadership to positively impact our community through volunteerism.”

Students said they heard speakers such as paralyzed former football player, Timothy Alexander; the current Miss Alabama, Lauren Bradford; and Caitlin Crommett with the Dreamcatchers Foundation.

“These speakers discussed how they have used real-life leadership to make an impact in the world,” Paysinger said. “I loved hearing from Timothy Alexander and how he persevered in his life to move on, through the ups and downs he faced.”

Deem said the speakers were knowledgeable and inspiring, adding that “they all had different experiences, but they solved it by being better people.”

Paysinger said the students did an activity that showed the diversity of the 200 participants. She said it showed “how we can leverage that diversity to do something big.”

“By the end of the seminar, we had made many connections and acquired a range of skills to take back to Athens,” Paysinger said.

Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership was founded in 1958 and has been an acclaimed youth leadership program ever since.

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.

“HOBY’s unique youth leadership development programs are designed to prepare young people to be effective and ethical leaders in their homes, schools, workplaces and communities,” HOBY said on its website.

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:

Improving Critical Thinking Skills HOBY encourages students to critically evaluate issues by engaging students with multiple perspectives on important issues. HOBY believes that effective leaders are those who make informed decisions.

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

Developing Goal Setting Skills The HOBY Leadership Seminar aims to encourage students to view leadership as a life goal worth pursuing. Participants are encouraged to identify personal goals to commit to achieving in one or more of the next six months.

Become aware of the importance of leadership

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

“It was a great opportunity to meet other leaders my age in our great state of Alabama. I hope to take everything I learned and bring it back to our community,” Paysinger said.

Deem added, “Not only was it a wonderful event, but I was able to make even more friends and gain more information that I hope to use throughout my life.”

“We are #athensproud that our #eagleleaders had the opportunity to attend this three-day seminar, focused on leadership, service and innovation,” ACS said in an online statement.