Blog Archives

Leadership For Service

6/7/2014

As part of Leadership for service on the second day, ambassadors took part in four different service projects that each benefited the community in a different way.

Led by the project managers, Courtney Reed, Shannon Oakley, Riley Sorem and Cassidy Puderbaugh. Ambassadors rotated between four stations.

The first station consisted of making dog toys. Ambassadors started by cutting scraps of denim into strips. They then braided the strips and tied knots in the end to ensure they would stay together. Over 200 dog toys were made to be sent to humane societies all around the Manhattan area.

From there, the groups would rotate every 25 minutes. Following the dog toys however, was the books station. Here, the ambassadors would create a group of no more than five and pick a child’s book. After selecting their book, the small group practiced reading the books, so that when recorded, they would sound correct and interesting. These books would be paired with the recording, and sent to a children’s hospitals, to help with boredom through long stays.

The next rotation was the project of making bibs. Ambassadors used denim and t-shirt material to cut out a pattern. They would then pin the two pieces of fabric together followed by attaching a shape such as a star or heart, also made out of t-shirt material, to the front. The bibs would later be sent to foster home systems. 55 bibs were pinned and ready to go by the end of all rotations.

Lastly, the groups would rotate to the flowers station. Here, each rotation of groups had their own jobs. First group transported all the potting soil, flowers, and pots to the area that we would be planning. Next group was in charge of putting rocks and soil in the bottoms of each pot to prepare for the next group to plant. After third group planted flowers, the fourth and final group loaded to pots of flowers back into vehicles to be transported to a local nursing home.

With phase two, leadership through service, finished, it leaves only one phase left.

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Focus On: Groups 1 and 2

6/7/2014

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Spirit Stick history was broken as two groups came together to take the win at roll call.

Groups one and two decided to take a new approach on winning the spirit stick. Instead of doing the traditional chant at role call, the two groups combined a cheer so that both groups could receive the award.

“Team work can promote victory, I think the idea of working together paid off,” said Dakota Reynolds, Group 1 member.

With this being said, the group has started a new way of doing cheers at role call. Later in the day, two groups combined, however their efforts did not result in winning the spirit stick.

“It felt good to start a new trend. We represented real life and you will always have to work with other people. It taught us to work together,” said Maria Zurschmiede, Group 2 member.

At the end of the day, the team of two unanimously agreed that the memory of working together for a common goal will be remembered forever.

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Focus On: Group 9

6/7/2014

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Leading through creativity, Group 9, Batman, receive the spirit stick after winning the group flag-decorating contest.

“I think we really bonded when we made the flag because we put Laffy Taffy down where certain colors should be. It was fun and we all had a common goal,” said Kami Miller, Group 9 member.

Through the flag decorating activity, the teams were able to bond and become closer. They also made memories that they agreed would be remembered forever.

“We easily just got together with some strangers and became a team, not a group, very fast,” said Yadira Nunez, Group 9 member.
Although this was the group’s first time winning the spirit stick, they agreed that it was a gateway to more successes, helping them come together as a team.
“I think it will help us win more because when we were all determined to win, we won, and everyone’s spirit went up,” said Tayler Mount, Group 9 member.

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Review: OUTSTANDING Speakers, Day 2

6/6/2014

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Sarah Koehn was happy to have the opportunity to address the seminar for the second of her three designated time slots. Her phase two of the Kansas HOBY’s leadership development centered on group leadership. Ambassadors did not just learn about groups, but rather teams. The difference between a group and a team is that a team has both a common mission and goal, and they cannot accomplish the task alone. Another main point was that successful groups are heterogeneous. In other words, teammates need to vary in strengths and weaknesses. The Ambassadors were told an analogy about six people on an elevator. They are a group until the elevator gets stuck, and then they become a team. Ambassadors were asked to reflect upon the question of whom they would bring if they were on the elevator after they did a self-evaluation of their most effective leadership role. Koehn made clear that “it is really uncomfortable…” to build a team with uncommon people. Nevertheless, the underlining message was everyone needs people who are different on their team!

Sarah Linn introduced SMART goals after the Leadership 4 Service projects (community service projects) by engaging ambassadors through thinking about goals they want to attain. SMART goals is a thinking and goal-forming process that can be used to accomplish goals. The acronym SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. Several students shared their ideas with the whole group, and they were analyzed as examples. Groups proceeded to do breakout sessions and discuss their individual ideas. This was wrapped up, and each group had the chance to share one idea they had with everyone. These will be considered for integration with a HOBY alumni event in the future!

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Get to Know Our PMAs!!!

6/6/2014

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Here to lead, mentor, and encourage Positive Mental Attitude, HOBY’s PMAs have helped the ambassadors start the process of becoming effective leaders of themselves, service and in their community.

“To be a PMA you have to have a lot of energy, a love for what you’re going to help the ambassadors with for what they are going through. Also just an outstanding attitude,” said Barrett Simon, Mr. PMA.

Not only do the PMAs lead all 200 ambassadors in cheer, and confidence, they also support the junior staff and make sure they have what they need to be effective leaders as well.

“I guess something that people don’t know is that one of our biggest challenges is keeping the seminar on time and making sure that all the ambassadors are present. We also want to make sure that our J-Staffers have a high morale and good PMA,” said Holly Ann Davis, Ms. PMA.
Mr. PMA explained the most fun part of being a PMA, exposing his love for HOBY.

“I just think we’re maybe the ones to take them out of their comfort zones. And being the ones they look to even before they meet their groups is my favorite part,” said Simon.
Between all the hard work, the PMA’s agree that their position on staff is fun, and worth while to ambassadors and HOBY as whole.

“We serve as role models and mentors and someone who they can look up to. We strive to be the face of HOBY because we represent the image that HOBY is,” said Davis.

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Focus On: Group Four, Captain America

6/5/2014

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With the first spirit stick competition out of the way, Group Four, Captain America, was able to be crowned the winner. Media Staff had to opportunity to discuss their success, and provide an inside look.

“The group coming together as one definitely helped us win the spirit stick,” said Camden Stiles, Group Four member.

Each group came up with a short skit to act out for the PMA’s to judge. The spirit stick would be awarded to the most creative, and funny skit.

“Yes! I think we have to ability to win the spirit stick again. The amount of ingenuity in this group is insane,” said Flint Spencer, Group Four Junior Facilitator.

Winning the spirit stick allows the group to be first in lunch line of 200 ambassadors, and the “brag ability” with the other groups.

“The moment they announce which group won and we accept the spirit stick is the most exciting part,” said Clancie Sorrell, Group Four member.

With one win down, Group Four is confident they will continue to have a successful seminar through teamwork.

“We can say there’s a clear first, but it would be a hard second. In all seriousness though, it would be a tough decision,” said Spencer.

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Review: OUTSTANDING Speakers

6/5/2014

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This morning Kansas HOBY had the pleasure of listening to the encouraging words of Dr. Emily Lehning during the Keynote Address. She incorporated Ambassadors sharing both their expectations and first impressions of HOBY in correlation with leadership development. This was done with emphasis on personal leadership, the first phase of three to be highlighted at this year’s seminar. She challenged the 2014 Ambassadors to push themselves out of their comfort zones to the “learning zone.” She elaborated that this zone, the one between the comfort zone and the “freak out zone,” is where the magic of growing as leader happens. She next included four basic ways leaders influence people- through people and feelings, idea sharing, planning, and the energy leaders bring. After that portion leadership exploration, she transitioned to her next speaking point using the Kid President quote, “You can’t be sad when you’re holding a cupcake.” She illustrated the perspective of being present by bringing actual cupcakes for a few volunteer Ambassadors, and then proceeding to inquire how they felt when they had the cupcake versus when they did not. The headlining message was to “relish every second” whether that be at the HOBY seminar or back home. Her enthusiasm about leadership and wise words were deserving of an “OUTSTANDING” cheer from the seminar participants!

The second speaker was the Director of Phaseology, Sarah Koehn. She was speaking on “everyone’s favorite subject”- himself or herself. She quizzed her attentive audience on what they thought the definition of a leader was. There were a wide variety of responses to this tough question. One ambassador replied that there were no specific sets of qualities that a person would have to possess to be a leader. Anyone could be a leader if they set their mind to it. The quality would vary based on what they did with the qualities they had within themselves. One specific point that Koehn put special emphasis on was “a leader leads by example whether they intend to or not.”

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Day One: It All Begins

6/5/2014

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After months of waiting anxiously, the ambassadors and junior and senior staff of Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership assemble to empower, lead, and excel.

“I hope to learn how to take the leadership skills that I’m learning back to my school and lead my classmates,” said Mattie Chafer, ambassador.

The day began with members of the junior staff charging ambassador’s cars, yelling about how happy they were to be at HOBY. With this in mind, ambassadors are asked to come slightly out of their comfort zones and open their minds to the panels, speakers, and leadership activities that we have in store.

“I’ve been excited! This morning when everyone was coming out and running was the most shocking part,” said Josh SanGrait, ambassador.
Following registration, ambassadors had the chance to meet up with their group and junior and senior facilitators where they participated in cheers, and icebreaker games.

“[The most important part of my job is] The enthusiasm and surprise and never losing those feelings,” said Lara Brockway, Group 20 junior facilitator.

The day was finished out with the Opening Ceremonies, energizers, speakers, and group time. With all the excitement, one can only wonder, what the next day will bring.

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