The ConVal Regional High School Counseling Department has announced that sophomores Matthew Smith, Savannah Kersbergen, and Lindsey Carey were selected to represent ConVal at the 2017 Hugh O’Brian Leadership Conference in May.
The HOBY Conference is a weekend-long program held at the St. Methodios Center in Contoocook, and will host sophomore student leaders from across New Hampshire.
Smith, Kersbergen, and Carey were three of twenty-four sophomores nominated by school staff for the conference. Fourteen candidates were interviewed by the committee.
Matthew Smith is the son of Steve and Diane Smith of Peterborough. He is a member of the ConVal Cross Country teams where he received the Coaches Award in 2016. Smith has a blue belt in Tae-Kwon-Do and has earned leadership and spirit awards in the sport. As a freshmen, Smith received outstanding achievement awards for his work in Algebra 1, Spanish 2, and Health and Wellness.
Savannah Kersbergen is the daughter of Kristopher and Jessica Wells-Kersbergen of Peterborough. She is a member of ConVal’s Ocean Bowl team, Varsity Volleyball team, and the History Club. As a freshmen, Kersbergen was the recipient of the History Student of the Year Award in 2016.
Lindsey Carey is the daughter of Steve and Lisa Carey of Greenfield. She was one of two freshmen to make the Varsity Basketball team last year, and currently is the goalie for the Varsity Soccer Team. Lindsey is active in the Student Athletic Leadership Team (SALT). Outside of ConVal, Lindsey volunteers for her church and serves as a camp counselor.
The seminar provides an opportunity for high school sophomores to recognize their potential talents and apply them in becoming effective, ethical leaders of the future. An estimated 7,500 sophomores attend the seminars in all 50 states and Canada each year. At the end of each seminar a boy and girl from each location is selected to attend the World Leadership Congress.
HOBY’s mission is to inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation. HOBY programs are conducted annually throughout the United States, serving local and international high school students. HOBY programs provide youth selected by their schools to participate in unique leadership training, service-learning and motivation-building experiences.