Students who have demonstrated leadership or those with leadership potential to apply should check out The HOBY Ambassador Position.  

Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership (HOBY) is a truly dynamic and interactive educational program that is designed to develop and strengthen leadership skills. The program is designed to prepare our country’s youth to become effective and ethical leaders in their homes, schools, workplaces and communities. Sophomore students who attend the weekend seminar at Hobart and William Smith Colleges June 12th-14th 2026 will interact with leaders in business, government, education, media and non-profit organizations.
Students are able to get a realistic look at our nation, its’ people, and their role within their global community, as well as how they can have an impact on these. HOBY will bring together students from high schools in sixteen counties in Central New York from Massena to Binghamton and from Utica to Waterloo. Please keep in mind that this opportunity is open to both students who have demonstrated leadership in the past, and those who feel that they have leadership potential. If you would like to find out more information, please come to the Counseling Office or visit www.hoby.org.
After completing the application below, return it to the Counseling Office, a school-based committee will be interviewing students.

Applications are due no later than October 27th and interviews will be held on Thursday October 30th during AP. 

 

BIG NEWS!!
APPLY TO SUNY FOR FREE OCTOBER 20-NOVEMBER 3!!!!
Apply up to 5 SUNY campuses with no application fee. 

Details on how to obtain the fee waiver are in the attachment below. 

For Junior and Senior Students: Now Accepting Applications for the 2026 U.S. Senate Youth Program

• Each year, the New York State Education Department selects two students from high schools across the state to represent New York at the national U.S. Senate Youth Program (USSYP). USSYP is a national nonpartisan initiative to provide an annual opportunity for talented high school students with demonstrated leadership abilities to deepen their understanding of America’s political processes and strengthen their resolve to pursue careers in public service.
• Any high school junior or senior is eligible. Applicants must be actively serving in qualified leadership positions, enrolled in high school, and living in the state that they will represent for the entire 2025-2026 academic year. The two chosen students will each be awarded a $10,000 scholarship and will attend the 64th annual USSYP Washington Week, which will take place in Washington, D.C., from March 7-14, 2026.
• The online USSYP 2026 Application must be submitted on or before Wednesday, October 15, 2025, by 5:00 PM. 
• More information, including the link to the online application form and the list of qualifying leadership positions, can be found on the Office of Standards and Instruction’s William Randolph Hearst Foundation United States Senate Youth Program website. 
• Questions may be submitted to NYSenateYouth@nysed.gov.

This Thanksgiving holiday, Senator May is sponsoring a Thanksgiving Day Student Showcase.
The theme for this program is “What are you thankful for?” Participating students will submit electronically to https://www.nysenate.gov/questionnaires/what-are-you-thankful by JPEG or PDF format:
1. Artwork
2. Short Essay
3. Original Poem
Students will receive a personalized certificate from their Senator.
All entries must be submitted by November 21, 2025, as the website will be closed after that date.
If you have any questions or would like to order materials, please send an email to: nysenateprograms@nysenate.gov or call 518-455-2558