LDZ, NHI Programs
2017 LDZ Las Americas led by Panama and U.S. students
The 2017 edition of the LDZ Las Americas — which is again bringing NHI programming to Central America — is being led by two of the many Panama City students in attendance, along with one of two of the ultimate legacy students at this year’s event.
Leaders at this year’s conference, at Ciudad del Saber in Panama City, Panama, include President Mikel Sanchez of Panama City, Panama’s Colegio Brader, President of the Senate Isabella Sada from Hays High School in Buda, Texas, and Florida-born Samuel DeFranco, who attends Colegio Isaac Rabin in Panama City, Panama. (Sada is the daughter of NHI Executive Vice President and the granddaughter of NHI Founder and President Ernesto Nieto, and earlier this summer, was part of the staff who successfully ran the Texas Star Great Debate at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.)
Students are rising to the occasion at this LDZ program, encouraging each other to assume leadership roles and putting forth ideas of import to the global Latino community.
Carolina Cohen, a student at Panamerican School in Panama City, Panama, asked about what she’s learning about leadership, said, “For me, a leader is a person who inspires everybody, guides him or her whenever they want to head, and knows how to listen to everybody’s opinion.” She reported that the legislature has been hard at work considering proposals and amendments.
“Leadership, to me, is when someone breaks through [his or her] shell to get to know everyone,” said Paolina Sada of Hays High School, a Representative at this year’s LDZ, who, like her sister Isabella, flew from Austin to Panama City to participate in NHI’s only program outside of the United States. She describes the mood in the House as “organized and peaceful,” adding, “We’ve had a good time.”
The program continues through Sunday.
Keep up all the great work! Wish there were more updates, pictures, and videos of this event.