A Revere student has earned an award as well as an invitation to a skill building conference this upcoming summer for continually displaying and developing her leadership qualities.

Sophomore Laura Leventhal is an active member of Ecology Club, Mock Trial, International Club, Girl Scouts and the girls’ Varsity golf team. Leventhal, along with many other students, received a letter from guidance counselor Linda Weigand stating that a teacher had recommended her for the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) award.

"HOBY’s goal as an organization is to develop new leaders to lead this generation in a positive way and have innovative thoughts once the leaders of today are gone," Leventhal said.

The award is not something for which one can apply; a teacher must recommend him or her.

"The first step was to write an essay about your leadership qualities, the things you participate in and how you contribute to the school. Out of all the essays, they had to select the best three essays," Leventhal said.

Following the essay selection, principal Phil King and guidance counselors Nick DePompei and Linda Weigand interviewed Leventhal and two other students to choose who would be granted the award.

"Each of us had a fifteen minute meeting with the adults. They had us elaborate on our essays, asked us what we would change our school, and what our extracurricular activities [are]," Leventhal said.

Leventhal explained that winning the award would mean being invited to a leadership conference at Mount Union college in Alliance, Ohio, during the first weekend of June. There, all participants will go learn leadership skills such as expanding and adapting their unique qualities to reach a wider variety of people.

Leventhal explained why being a leader is important to her.

"I want to help be part of the change we can make as students; [I want to] help us to be empowered, to make decisions for our school. Also, [we should] decide things that concern us like class choices and sizes or what clubs we want to join and create," Leventhal said.

Laura’s mother Linda Leventhal was happy to learn her daughter had been chosen for the award and reminisced of Laura’s qualities early in life.

"She’s always been a compassionate person. Even as a little kid she wanted to make the world a better place. Over the years, this trait developed into leadership. . . 　. I feel she would make the most out of this wonderful chance and take the experience to use at Revere," Linda said.

Laura hopes to sharpen her leadership skills at the conference so she will be able to lead in any situation presented.