THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 4, 1996 TAG: 9601030162
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: THUMBS UP
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
SHERRY GWALTNEY had a special reason for wanting to represent Lakeland High School at the 38th Annual Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation seminar in May.
Sherry's sister, Tina, a senior at Lakeland, had been selected to attend the seminar two years ago and had only good things to say about it.
``I'd heard it was a whole lot of fun,'' Sherry said. ``Everyone was so energetic and full of personality.''
Only one sophomore is selected to attend annually at each participating high school and qualifications include incentive and potential leadership abilities.
Fifteen-year-old Sherry submitted an application and was delighted to learn that she had been chosen as a HOBY ambassador along with Heather Soper, the winning representative from Nansemond River High School.
Heather, 15, has demonstrated her leadership potential by dividing her time for the past two summers between serving as a member of the Junior Volunteer program at Obici Hospital and as a part-time, counselor-in-training at the Suffolk YMCA.
HOBY ambassadors will spend May 17-19 at Christopher Newport University. The all-expense paid weekend is funded through contributions from corporations, service organizations, foundations and individuals.
The upcoming seminar will bring together high school sophomores with today's leaders, who have distinguished themselves in business, education, government, the sciences, arts and other professions. Through intense but informal discussions, young people get a realistic look at their nation, its people and their role in the work community.
This acclaimed international program began in 1958 when actor Hugh O'Brian returned from Africa, inspired by a nine-day visit spent working and talking with Dr. Albert Schweitzer.
Later that year, O'Brian, who portrayed legendary lawman Wyatt Earp on television, decided to make his own contribution to society by establishing HOBY. He chose youth development as the most promising enterprise that the Foundation could sponsor.
One young man and woman, selected at the conclusion of next spring's HOBY Leadership Seminar, will represent their seminar at an eight-day HOBY World Leadership Congress in Houston, Texas.
Sherry is the middle daughter of Steve and Sharon Gwaltney of Holland. She has a younger sister, Bonnie, 13.
A third-year Spanish student, Sherry is a member of the Spanish Club and plans to become a Spanish teacher. She is the sophomore class president, a representative of the SCA and a member of the Superintendent Advisory Committee.
``We meet with the school superintendent monthly to talk about problems and also, good happenings,'' she said.
An honor student, Sherry is captain of the Academic Team and a member of the Culture Society, a group that schedules trips to operas and museums. During the summer months, she also did volunteer clerical work at Southampton Memorial Hospital in Franklin.
Sherry, whose father is a volunteer fireman, is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Carrsville Volunteer Fire Department.
``When I was little, our sleeping bags stayed where we could get at them in a hurry,'' Sherry said. ``We sat in front of fire trucks and watched many a fire. Now, we help provide cool water and food for the firemen, if we stay at a fire long enough.''
Sherry and her family enjoy traveling and visiting Civil War battlefields. Heather, who is a native of Suffolk, is the daughter of Robert and Melody Soper. She has two brothers, David, 20, and John, 8, and a sister, Mary Catherine, 5.
A resident of the Chuckatuck area, Heather tutors John in math and spelling and helps with household chores, which include the care and feeding of two dogs, 17 cats, two hamsters and three goldfish.
Although Heather has been a junior varsity cheerleader and a member of the track team in the past, this year has been too hectic for many outside activities, she said. A dance student for 14 years, she has managed to continue taking tap, jazz and ballet lessons.
As a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, Heather works part-time at Subway, where brother David is an employee, too.
``We're pretty close friends,'' Heather said. ``We both make subs and wait on customers, but we made an agreement not to work together. I work after school and on weekends and he works at night.''
Chemistry is Heather's favorite subject and at one time, she hoped for a career in chemical engineering. Working at the Y with young children of working parents has changed her mind, however.
``I want to be a child abuse psychologist,'' she said. ``I've seen so many kids with so many problems. But I would like to broaden my horizons by going to college out of state and maybe, traveling a little.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Nansemond River's Heather Soper, left, and Lakeland's Sherry
Gwaltney will attend the Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation seminar.
by CNB