Holy Angels Announces 2022 HOBY Representatives, Alternate

Kate Hynes of Park Ridge and Elise Tao of Upper Saddle River will represent the Academy of the Holy Angels at the 2022 Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference. Sarah David of Cresskill was named an alternate.

“Thank you to all of the sophomores who applied for the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar,” AHA College Counselor Jennifer Trubac said in her announcement. “This year, we received many applications and the selection process was extremely competitive.”

AHA students consistently demonstrate a high level of interest in HOBY, and the Class of 2024 was particularly enthusiastic. Trubac said the current sophomores submitted the highest number of applications in recent years. Plans call for an in-person conference this summer.

“I chose to apply to HOBY because I believe we can be leaders in all aspects of our lives,” Kate Hynes shared. “As sophomore class president, I decided that this program can help me to be a better leader in the AHA community. As AHA’s representative, I hope to do my best to be an example of our school’s message and to really learn from the experience.”

Hynes maintains an excellent grade point average, and has received Principal’s List and Honor Roll recognition at AHA. Her work has been published in “Blueprint,” the Academy’s literary magazine. She served as homeroom representative for the Student Council and was later elected class president. Hynes belongs to the Book Club, DECA, Forensics Club, and the Gaelic Cultural Society. She sang with the choir during her freshman year. She is a camp counselor and is active in her parish, where she has played the handbells since 2018. She has also served as a drama program volunteer.

In 2020, she participated in the AHA Radio Drama, “The Shadow.” Earlier this year, Hynes appeared in “Sister Act,” the AHA Spring Musical, which was presented online. She also shared her acting talents in “Something Rotten” at Saint Joseph Regional High School.

Hynes is a member of the AHA Varsity Gymnastics Team and was active with the USAG Competitive Gymnastics Team from 2012 through 2020. She is also involved with the AHA Varsity Cross-Country Team, winter track, and spring track. Her activities include the Forensics Club and the Gaelic Cultural Society. In 2020, she participated in AHA’s Christmas story reading which was recorded and sent to Saint Peter School in Philadelphia.

Elise Tao views HOBY as an “opportunity to be surrounded by fellow young leaders in their communities, exchange ideas, and enhance our respective skills together.”

Tao is an award-winning writer whose work has been published by “Sole Magazine” and “Teen Ink.” She attended Ellipsis Writing, where she participated in Stephen Epsada Dawson’s advanced poetry workshop. Tao also attended the School of the New York Times journalism course, where she was taught by Seth Kugel and interviewed actors Syndee Winters and Michael Aarons. She has also attended Columbia’s journalism and nonfiction course.

This teen entrepreneur is the driving force behind Synthesis Publications, an online publication for young writers and artists. She was editor-in-chief of her middle school’s newspaper, and currently writes for the “AHA Voice.” Tao is a member of AHA’s Writers’ Society, and recently won a Gold Key and three Honorable Mentions in the Scholastic Art & Writing Competition.

Tao is founder and president of Angel Mathletes, AHA’s competitive math team. After she placed second in the school on the rigorous AMC10 exam, Tao developed a way for Angels to practice with official test problems from previous years.

She recently finished first in DECA’s regional Principles of Business Administration event, and qualified for the state competition. She is active with Model United Nations, and earned Outstanding Delegate honors at the Phillips Exeter Academy Conference, and a Verbal Commendation at the Dalton event. She has also participated in Girls Who Code.

Tao is sophomore vice president of the AHA Student Council. She is a Mother Caroline Scholar and a Sister Nonna Dunphy Semifinalist, and is regularly named to the Principal’s List for her outstanding GPA. She will soon be working toward her Girl Scout Gold Award. 

Sarah David chose to apply for the highly competitive HOBY program to further develop as a leader and, ultimately, share her skills with the community.

“I coach rec soccer at my local community center, and the greatest takeaway from this has been the ability to see the impact of my leadership,” David noted. “Watching as my little kids grow into their own leadership roles and demonstrate the same characteristics that I, as a coach, demonstrate has been the most rewarding experience.”

During the summer of 2021, she attended a nine-day National Youth Leadership Forum, where she explored a variety of medical fields.

David is a member of the French Honor Society, and is active with Angels in Anatomy and Outreach Club. As a member of DECA, she recently finished second in the Restaurant Virtual Business Challenge Northeast.

This scholar athlete plays for the AHA Varsity Soccer Team, where she earned Second Team All-League honors as a freshman. She has been playing club soccer since she was in seventh grade, and has participated in spring track at AHA.

Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girls’ school in Bergen County. While AHA is steeped in Catholic tradition, this prestigious school serves young women from many cultural and religious backgrounds.