Seaford Sophomores Selected To Attend Hugh O’Brian Leadership Seminar

SEAFORD, NY. — Seaford sophomores Catherine Clasen, Morgan DaSilva, Jimmy Hurson, Finley Kirrane and Luciana Sacco will be doing some travel this spring, as the quintet attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) leadership seminar at Adelphi University.

The students were chosen from a pool of nine Seaford nominees, district representatives said, seeing through an application process that included panel interviews with HOBY staff and essays.

“It’s an honor and I’m really happy I got chosen to attend,” Clasen said. “I’m really excited to learn more ways to be a leader. I know I have leader qualities but I also know there’s a lot more I can learn.”

When she’s not applying to leadership conferences, Clasen is the sophomore class president, a member of Best Buddies, a varsity field hockey player and a JV lacrosse player.

For Kirrane, secretary of the sophomore class and a participant in the drama club, the opportunity to learn some leadership skills is an exciting chance to bring those skills to the rest of his life.

“I want to get a better understanding of what leadership is,” Kirrane said.

For his part, Hurson said he hoped the lessons learned at HOBY could help him grow as an athlete. Hurson plates lacrosse and soccer at Seaford.

“I want to be a better leader,” Hurson said. “In sports, every team needs a leader.”

DaSilva, a cheerleader, peer tutor and sophomore class representative, said the interview process asked about what leadership qualities applicants currently have, what they contribute to their school community and who inspires them. In conversations with older classmates who have attended the conference, district representatives said, DaSilva was told to embrace the experience, living in the moment and learning as much as possible.

The leadership conference will allow attendees to learn from leaders in business, education, government and more, teaching the students through workshops how to address the issues facing society today and in the future.