Seminar Mission

“What are you going to do with this?” The famous question that inspired Hugh O’Brian to start HOBY is same question that drives the NC West Leadership Seminar: how can we empower our ambassadors to use their HOBY experience to change the world?

Over the course of just three days, NC West’s ambassadors will hear from incredible speakers, all leaders in their fields; participate in activities that will test personal skills and challenge ideals; ask questions and discuss the topics that matter; and make friends that will last a lifetime.

We strive to push our ambassadors to learn more about themselves, their leadership skills and styles, and their passions. By the end of the weekend, we hope each ambassador leaves the seminar knowing what they want to do with everything they’ve learned at HOBY NC West.

Seminar History

North Carolina’s first HOBY Leadership Seminar was held in 1979 at Belmont and run by the Charlotte Jaycees. Fifty high school sophomores attended. By 1987, the HOBY North Carolina seminar had grown to over 200 ambassadors. From 1988 through 2002, North Carolina held two HOBY Seminars: one run by the Raleigh Jaycees for ambassadors from the eastern half of the state and one run by the Charlotte Jaycees for ambassadors from the western half of the state. In 2003, the seminars were reunited again under a single HOBY North Carolina banner and were managed and staffed primarily by the Raleigh Jaycees. In 2010, Jaycees and HOBY alumni from all over North Carolina united to relaunch HOBY NC West!