Colorado LDZ brings next level of interaction and growth for students from three nations

The National Hispanic Institute and Colorado State University go way back — more than 30 years, in a partnership that helped NHI expand from a Texas-based project to a national and even international one. That relationship continued on with the 2022 Colorado LDZ, which brought more than 110 students from 10 states, as well as the Dominican Republic and Mexico to Fort Collins, from June 19-26. 

Connie Jaime-Lujan, Director of Educational Transitions & Support Services for Colorado State University, noted that this year’s LDZ was an exceptional edition of the program the university has hosted for more than three decades. 

“It was great to see that next level of interaction and growth, and have the students have the incredible experience that the LDZ offers them,” she observed. “I’ve never seen such a transformational leadership experience for students to really find their voices, find their power, find the importance of networking. And the theme this year with community equity building was so crucial, because our Latinx population has so much to offer.” 

“So we are in our 32nd session of having LDZ, and that’s a long standing partnership with the National Hispanic Institute,” she added, “So we’re very proud of that collaboration, and community that we’re developing and building with these students — I think that’s incredible.” 

The top elected officials at this edition of the program included:

• Governor: Daniela Calero, Tecnológico de Monterrey Santa Fe, Mexico City, Mexico
• Lieutenant Governor: Alondra Garcia, Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, Austin, Texas
• Chief Justice: Javier Noriego-Hernandez, Adams City High School, Commerce City, Colorado
• Speaker of the House: Victoria Meyers, School for the Talented and Gifted at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, Dallas, Texas

An impressive nine proposals were passed into law during the session:

• “Latinx Arts and Culture Annual Festival & Subsequent Scholarship,” written by Ricardo Garcia Naranjo, Greeley Central High School, Greeley, Colorado
• “Clean Energy Equity Proposal,” written by Carlos Gonzalez, Da Vinci School for the Sciences and the Arts, El Paso, Texas
• “Latino Scholarship Symposium,” written by Valeria Rodriguez, Caldwell Senior High School, Caldwell, Idaho
• “Acceptance of Foreign Languages in Schools,” written by Alyssa Perera, McNeil High School, Austin, Texas
• “Mi Hermano Mayor,” written by Vivi Castro, Fossil Ridge High School, Fort Collins, Colorado
• “LGBTQ+ Youth Acceptance Centers in Latinx Communities,” written by Diego Russek Torres, Colegio Americano de Torreón, Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
• “Inclusion de Reclusos en la Sociedad,” written by Benedict Jismer Kelly Sanchez, Colegio Dominicano de la Salle, Santo Domingo, la Republica Dominicana
• “Have Better Health Insurance for Undocumented People,” written by Amellali de Luna, Fort Collins High School, Fort Collins, Colorado
• “Safe Web Browsing for Increased Productivity,” written by Alexandra Sandoval-Bobadilla, Fort Collins High School, Fort Collins, Colorado

Awards for participating students included:

• Most Distinguished Representative: Ricardo Garcia, Greeley Central High School, Greeley, Colorado
• Most Persuasive Representative: Alexandra Sandoval-Bobadilla, Fort Collins High School, Fort Collins, Colorado
• Most Outstanding Legislator: Alyssa Perera, McNeil High School, Austin, Texas
• Best Debater (House of Representatives): Amellali de Luna, Fort Collins High School, Fort Collins, Colorado
• Best Author of a Resolution: Nicolas Bustillo, Allen High School, Allen, Texas
• Most Distinguished Senator: Carlos Gonzalez, Da Vinci School for the Sciences and the Arts, El Paso, Texas
• Most Persuasive Senator: Alexander Husen, Fossil Ridge High School, Windsor, Colorado
• Most Outstanding Legislator: Fernanda Castillo, Mitchell High School, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Best Debater (Senate): Cameron Quiroz, Antonian College Preparatory High School, San Antonio, Texas
• Best Author of a Resolution: Madison Messner, West Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Most Distinguished Attorney: Sophia Carrizales, St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School, Austin, Texas
• Most Outstanding Member (of the Supreme Court): Andrea Mercado, School for the Talented and Gifted, Dallas, Texas
• Best Orator:  Ava Zambrano, Edina High School, Edina, Minnesota
• Most Promising Leaders: Diego Russek, Colegio Americano de Torreón, Torreón, Mexico and Valeria Rodriguez, Caldwell Senior High School, Caldwell, Idaho
• Ricky Miranda Award: Luis Carlos Kelly-Sanchez, Colegio Dominicano de la Salle, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic