Joseph Arege ’22 and Chris Fittipaldi ’22 have been selected by the Christian Brothers Academy Guidance Department to participate in the 2020 Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar.

HOBY’s flagship program allows high school sophomores to recognize their leadership talents and apply them in becoming effective, ethical leaders in their home, school, workplace and community. Students attend three- or four-day seminars and participate in hands-on leadership activities, meet leaders in their state, and explore their own personal leadership skills while learning how to make a positive impact in their community.

The seminar curriculum is based on the Social Change Model of Leadership and develops leadership from three perspectives: Personal Leadership, Group Leadership, and Leadership for Society.

Both Arege and Fittipaldi were selected by the Guidance Department because of their impressive track record of service and involvement during their freshman and sophomore years.

Arege will serve as CBA’s primary representative at the seminar. He stood out to his guidance counselor, Mr. Kevin McCaig, because of his outgoing personality and his initiative to get involved at CBA. With a passion for photography, Arege has volunteered his time to assist with school-wide media projects and his photos have been featured on the CBA website and social media.

He is currently serving as the Lead Photographer for the CBA Digital Network, the school’s student media group. Arege has also been active in CBA Student Council.

Fittipaldi was selected by his guidance counselor, Mrs. Nicole Johnson, because of his enthusiasm for CBA and his personal motto of “never give in, never give up.” He has been active in many CBA activities, including the Pegasus Productions tech crew, student council, science team, and is a school ambassador.

His main service project has been with Our Special Place, which helps students with special needs improve with their social and cultural skills. Fittipaldi is a peer model with the organization and leads the students through activities and games.

The 2020 seminar will take place next June at Kean University. Over 10,000 students across the country will participate in their state’s leadership seminar this spring.

The seminar weekend is filled with interactive activities and workshops that allow students to discover their personal leadership strengths. After understanding leadership from three different perspectives, students then learn to cultivate their skills to lead others and make a positive impact in their community.