The nonprofit organization was founded in 1958 by former U.S. Marine and actor Hugh O’Brien to inspire youth to a life of leadership, service, and innovation.
Walton, a sophomore at AHS, is a self-described political junkie who plans to become a civil rights attorney. He is a member of several clubs and organizations at the high school and frequently volunteers in the community to serve others.
“I have always wanted to represent people who may not be well-represented in society,” he said of his plans to become involved in civil rights. “I want to stand up for the people who can stand up for themselves.”
The Hugh O’Brien Seminar offers leadership sessions to develop students’ leadership skills and become effective, ethical leaders in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. Students are selected based on their leadership qualities. At the HOBY seminar, students meet other students from across the state with the same qualities.
Walton avidly follows politics on the local, state, and national levels. He became interested in politics through the influence of his grandmothers. He recently toured the White House and dreams of occupying the Oval Office.
“I may be interested in attending college in the District of Columbia area to remain close to national politics,” he said.
George Washington and American universities are among the schools he is considering. He hopes to attend law school at Georgetown University.
“I have always wanted to go to Georgetown law school. A lot of people have gone to law school there and they have ended up doing great things in the political field,” Walton said.
He is president of the AHS sophomore class and holds a leadership position with the Youth and Government Club. He was also one of the first students to join Alleghany’s new Alleghany Highlands Advancement (AHA): Law and Political Science program.
Walton is seeking a leadership position with the Key Club, which is affiliated with Kiwanis International. As a student-led organization, the Key Club inspires its members to become leaders who serve their communities.
Walton is also a member of Family, Careers, and Community Leaders of America and the Create for Kids Club. The Create for Kids Club makes cards for children who are patients in pediatric hospitals. He competes as a swimmer on the varsity swim team and as a member of the speech team.
He hopes to use his experience from the Virginia HOBY Leadership Seminar to become a stronger leader at AHS in his junior and senior years. The seminar will be held May 30 and June 1 in Harrisonburg. “I want to be able to serve the school more in my junior and senior years. I also do a lot of volunteering in the community. Maybe HOBY will help me do more volunteering,” Walton said.
He plans to volunteer with the Alleghany Highlands Christmas Mother Program during the holiday season. Walton already devotes time to assisting with special events in elementary schools. He can also be seen serving as a guest reader in classrooms and assisting teachers. “I try to be involved at my high school and support it in any way I can. And I always try to give back to the community. Always,” he said.
Local high schools have a longstanding tradition of sending student representatives to the Virginia HOBY event thanks to strong community support.
“It is always a pleasure and honor to select a very special young person to attend the HOBY Leadership Conference,” said AHS School Counselor Sonya Howell. “Logan is a capable and willing student leader,” said Kim Halterman and Melinda Snead-Johnson, leaders of AHPS. “He’s a great fit for this program and a great friend to many students in our community.”
Individuals or groups interested in sponsoring future HOBY ambassadors can contact the AHS Counseling Department at (540) 863-1700. With approximately 2,700 students, AHPS was created when Alleghany County Public Schools, Covington City Public Schools, and Jackson River Technical Center merged in July 2022.
The school division is jointly funded by Alleghany County and the City of Covington. AHPS news and events are regularly updated on Facebook at AHPublicSchools and Instagram at ahpublicschools. Information is also available at www.ahps.k12.va.us.