By Marva Murphy
2M Communications

When he was no longer playing Wyatt Earp on TV, actor Hugh O'Brien became involved in recognizing skills and leadership training for high school students across the country. Believing that the leaders of tomorrow need to be groomed today, O'Brien started the Hugh O'Brien Youth Foundation (HOBY). http://hoby.org

HOBY established a relationship with Lions Clubs International, which enabled many students to attend the weekend leadership conference by virtue of funding, provided by local Lions Clubs. The Burbank Noon Lions participated in HOBY for the first time in 2004.

Identified as exhibiting leadership qualities and recommended by her school counselors and teachers, Burbank High School student Deysy Ordonez was sponsored by Burbank Noon Lions to attend the June 2004 conference. Energized by her weekend, Deysy returned to Burbank High School and formed a group, called Freedom's Answer, of students to support an effort to get out the vote for the November presidential election. With her guiding leadership, over 4,000 adults signed a pledge to vote. Additionally, Deysy insured the HOBY project continues at Burbank High by forming a committee with staff to help identify and support a HOBY representative annually. The Burbank Noon Lions Club continues to annually contribute to the HOBY project in conjunction with the committee at Burbank High School.

Konrad Hermann was our 2006 HOBY recipient from Burbank High School. He shared his experiences with club members and explained how he had the opportunity to get to know other attendees with similar interest and aspiration. On the weekend training agenda was the issue of illegal immigration. Outside speakers on the subject, experts in their respective fields representing all aspects of the dilemma, enlightened the HOBY kids. This gave them a platform for learning the skills of leadership and decision-making. Each year, since the project began, an outstanding student, exhibition leadership qualities is selected to participate in the HOBY weekend.

(Far right) Deysy Ordonez, Burbank High School HOBY representative demonstrates, along with student representatives from high schools throughout California, how to give an opinion of anything considered "O"utstanding"

Working as a team, Burbank High School representative Deysy Ordonez (5th from left) models attire designed during a group assignment to create a "fashion show" by recycling materials at hand, as part of the Hugh O'Brien Youth (HOBY) Leadership Weekend training.