2022 Texas CWS program prepares students for next chapter of their lives

The National Hispanic Insitute came to San Antonio, Texas, this summer looking to inspire students, in what turned out to be one of the largest editions of the Collegiate World Series to date. More than 100 students — primarily from Texas, but from throughout the U.S. plus Costa Rica and Mexico – converged on St. Mary’s University for the uniquely-designed program, focusing on the life-changing journey of college and the life-changing mindset provided through Inquiry-Based Learning.

“These participants had a vastly different NHI program experience starting their journey in Summer 2020,” said Angela Masciale, who served as education director for the program. “One of our valedictorians had only experienced virtual programs prior to the CWS. While we were able to craft impactful virtual programs for the students during the pandemic, there is nothing more exciting than seeing the students in person, albeit with masks covering half their faces.”

“The Thought Series challenges brought in questions of social narratives, the future, and lessons of programs past,” she added. “Participants were asked to think critically about how to approach decisions using the Inquiry-Based Learning format to effectively come to a robust answer. Presentations after each round showed progress in their grasp of the format and new found creativity with each pass.”

Trey Lopez, who attended the program, returned to IDEA Weslaco Pike rejuvenated and inspired to go through the college application process, noting, “I started realizing that I need to start taking advantage of these opportunities that are present before they slip away.”

But Lopez also found the IBL portion of the program to be inspiring as well. “Whenever I was at the program, it was a little hard to understand. However, literally as I was driving home from it, I started applying IBL to my daily life and I started getting it. It’s a breakdown of how you can solve problems, and I think that’s really cool.”

Melissa Cantu, a participant from La Joya High School in the Rio Grande Valley, and one of the Hall of Famers, noted, “The fundamentals this institute teaches to its members are values I strive to live by. The Texas CWS was truly an awarding and challenging experience. I had the opportunity to reconnect with old friends from previous events as well as make new friendships and build my network.”

“CWS helped me learn what kind of person I wanted to be walking into this next chapter of my life,” she added. “I am forever grateful for the personal one-on-one interactions I had with college admissions officers and my senior mentors. Thanks to them, in the span of five days, I learned more about degrees, scholarships, and college applications than I had my entire junior year in high school.”

“But CWS was so much more than a prestigious college fair,” she noted. “CWS was a taste of the real world. One of the many things I so deeply admire about NHI is the fact that they treat all their participants as if they were already grown, functioning members of society. The directors and volunteer team presented us with complex scenarios, and introduced us to one of the most effective decision making systems I’ve come to know,” referring to the Inquiry-Based Learning method at the heart of the program. “All in all, I came back home from my CWS rejuvenated and ready to take on what the world has to offer for my upcoming senior year and the college experience.”

The 2022 winning team of the League Series, representing Claremont McKenna College, included:

• Gabriela Arriaga, School of Science and Engineering at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, Dallas, Texas
• Ana Martinez, Juan Diego Academy, Mission, Texas
• Lucas Salaberry, Lamar High School, Houston, Texas
• Santiago Navarro Benbow, Westtown School, West Chester, Penn.
• Evelyn Treviño, Jimmy Carter Early College High School, La Joya, Texas
• Natalia Botello, IDEA Montopolis College Preparatory, Austin, Texas
• Ariana Jurado, Thelma R. Salinas Early College High School, Mission, Texas
• Mireya Moreno, Thelma R. Salinas Early College High School, Mission, Texas
• Victoria Alvarado, Mathis High School, Mathis, Texas
• Maribella Barrera, Mathis High School, Mathis, Texas

Major Leaguers included:

• Nathalia Mireles-Mota, IDEA Alamo College Preparatory, Alamo, Texas
• Emma Levesque, Randolph High School, Universal City, Texas
• Paulina Quiroga, John F. Kennedy American School of Querétaro, Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro, México
• Rebeca Galván, Veterans Memorial Early College High School, Brownsville, Texas
• Kristen Padilla, iUniversity Prep, San Antonio, Texas
• Stephanie Cruz, Mathis High School, Mathis, Texas
• Viviana Gonzalez, Mathis High School, Mathis, Texas
• Krisna Garza, Thelma R. Salinas Early College High School, Mission, Texas
• Mia Nieto, Hays High School, Buda, Texas
• Lucas Salaberry, Lamar High School, Houston, Texas

Hall of Famers of the session included:

• Austin College – Aliza Rodriguez, Mathis High School, Mathis, Texas
• Baylor University – Myrna Weis-Calderón, Greeley Central High School, Greeley, Colo.
• Claremont Mckenna College – Victoria Alvarado, Mathis High School, Mathis, Texas
• Cornell University – Victoria Sirito, John Paul II High School, Plano, Texas
• St. Olaf College – Eileen Caivinagua, La Joya High School, La Joya, Texas
• St. Mary’s University – Melissa Cantu, Thelma R. Salinas Early College High School, Mission, Texas
• The George Washington University – Leticia Marrero, Cotulla High School, Cotulla, Texas
• Trinity University – Mia White, Loretto Academy High School, El Paso, Texas
• University of Texas at Arlington – Jasmine Leal, Mathis High School, Mathis, Texas
• Willamette University – Justin Lopato, Hanna Early College High School, Brownsville, Texas

• The winners of the Thought Series included:
• Gael Gonzalez, Palmview High School, La Homa, Texas
• Jasmine Leal, Mathis High School, Mathis, Texas
• Jelicity Luna, Young Women’s Leadership Academy, San Antonio, Texas
• Joseph Seuss, Shadow Creek High School, Pearland, Texas
• Lucas Salaberry, Lamar High School, Houston, Texas
• Marchesa Cook, Ray High School, Corpus Christi, Texas
• Maribella Barrera, Mathis High School, Mathis, Texas
• Miyah Rodriguez-Soto, Mathis High School, Mathis, Texas
• Nicolas Perez, Saint Joseph Notre Dame, Alameda, Calif.
• Ruben Medrano, Mathis High School, Mathis, Texas
• Eileen Caivinagua, La Joya High School, La Joya, Texas

The program was presented in part by State Farm, a longtime NHI partner, which provided funding to help present this year’s CWS programs.

“State Farm has provided tremendous support to the CWS this year, awarding scores of students with partial scholarship support to attend and meet some of our nation’s top colleges. We’re so excited to continue our partnership work and impact the lives of students,” stated Nicole Nieto, Executive Vice President.

AT&T also supported CWSers by bringing in popsicles to kick the Texas heat!  

In addition to the St. Mary’s program, NHI brought the CWS to the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn.