NHI renews longstanding partnership with Augustana College for Midwest Great Debate

The National Hispanic Institute, which has provided leadership education for top-performing Latino high school students since its 1979 founding, is continuing its longstanding partnership with Augustana College with the 2022 edition of its Midwest Great Debate program July 3-8. 

The six-day program, the first in a three-year curriculum showcasing NHI’s community-based approach to civic engagement, has selected spots remaining for students meeting the organization’s admission requirements and are committed to joining the ranks of leaders for the growing global Latino community. 

In doing so, students will embark on a journey in which they develop their communication skills, collaborating with other team members and striving to excel in speech and debate competitions showcasing what they learn over the six-day immersive program. 

“Students from the Chicago metro area and throughout the Midwest have launched their leadership journeys through NHI,” said Nicole Nieto, NHI’s executive vice president. “One of the most remarkable facts about our summer programs is that for many students, it’s the first time they’ll ever set foot on and stay at a college campus, and Augustana is a phenomenal setting for getting that first taste of college life.” 

Augustana, a selective, private liberal arts and sciences college, was founded in 1860, and its 115-acre wooded campus is in the Quad Cities metro area about 165 miles west of Chicago. 

Augustana has recently been recognized for its commitment to diversity, winning the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education, two years running. It also won recognition from U.S. News and World Report for being among the most innovative higher education institutions in Illinois and among the nation’s leaders in that category. 

“Hosting high-caliber students, like those who attend as part of the NHI program, is something we value, and as an institution, we are honored to do,” said Kent Barnds, executive vice president at Augustana. “Together, during that week, Augustana and NHI have the ability to create an environment that challenges and prepares students who will become leaders, innovators and change agents in their communities, and in the world.”

Students who wish to apply for the program and reserve one of the remaining spots should visit the Midwest Great Debate page in the Great Debate section at the National Hispanic Institute website, https://www.nationalhispanicinstitute.org.