California Sol Great Debate, at University of San Diego, declared ‘absolute gem of a program’

The University of San Diego served as the host institution for the 2024 edition of the California Sol Great Debate, serving 115 students hailing primarily from Mexico, Southern California, and Las Vegas from July 9-14.

Gaby Morales, Educational Director for the program, said, “California Sol is an absolute gem of a program, with students attending from all over the United States and several cities in Mexico, we also had representation from other countries like El Salvador and Cuba. From Day One, students found ways to connect and work together. When they went on to form teams, it was amazing to see how each team protected their personalities through their names, flags, and chants.”

She noted, “Teamwork was evident as students and head coaches worked together on training for each category. And while the Great Debate is ultimately a tournament that relies in competition, the essence of the program revolves around collaboration and team work. 

At the end of the program, the growth of every participant was equally evident and incredible. As an Educational Director, there is nothing I enjoy more than reflecting on the growth that we all experience during this program and hope we can all continue to use this learning in our everyday lives.”

As is the case with NHI’s six-day Great Debate programs, students came to the program as individuals, perhaps knowing just classmates from high schools that sent contingents of students, and aligned as ten teams working together and competing as the first step in NHI’s three-year summer leadership program series.

While the National Hispanic Institute, founded in Austin, Texas, in 1979, has a long tradition in Southern California, this program is a fairly new one compared to more established programs serving the Midwest and Northeast U.S.

Ana González, from Escuela Sierra Nevada Interlomas, Jesús del Monte, Mexico, said of her experience at the program, “Something I learned was to speak in public and I grew as a person by being more confident.

Mario Sanchez, from Colegio Ignacio Zaragoza in Saltillo, Mexico, added, “I learned how to be able to argue properly without starting disagreements, and I grew as a person because I think I made a lot of progress knowing who I am and what my abilities are.”

Award winners at this edition of the program included:

Oratory

• 1st Place: Maya Ulick-Gallegos, La Salle College Preparatory, Pasadena, California
• 2nd Place: Paloma Massieu, Escuela Sierra Nevada Interlomas, Jesús del Monte, Mexico
• All-State: Vale Lopez, Colegio Ignacio Zaragoza, Saltillo, Mexico

Extemporaneous Speaking

• 1st Place: Nevina Minnalez, West Career & Technical Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada
• 2nd Place: Ramiro Madrazo, Colegio Ignacio Zaragoza, Saltillo, Mexico
• All-State: Xochi Contreras, St. Mary’s Academy, Englewood, Colorado

Cross Examination

• 1st Place: Maddie Leiva, Vivian Webb School, Claremont, California (Leader); Yenny Turcios, Canyon Springs High School, Moreno Valley, California (Member)
• 2nd Place: Angel Barajas, Cristo Rey San Diego High School, San Diego, California (Leader); Alex Perez, La Salle College Preparatory, Pasadena, California (Member)
• All-State: Lorenzo Cazares, Colegio Americano de Torreón, Torreón, Mexico (Leader); Michelle Velazquez, Equipo Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada (Member)

Transformation Awards

• Alana Alcázar De León, West Career & Technical Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Ceci Castañeda, Colegio Ignacio Zaragoza, Saltillo, Mexico
• Sofia Garcia, Mojave High School, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Evelyn Gomez, Colegio Ignacio Zaragoza, Saltillo, Mexico
• Renatta Limon, Colegio Ignacio Zaragoza, Saltillo, Mexico
• Valentino Llorens, Colegio Americano de Torreón, Torreón, Mexico
• Victoria Machado, The Webb Schools, Claremont, California
• Miguel Mena, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, Mexico
• Tori Rosales, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, Mexico
• Alex Tory, Equipo Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada

Athenaeum

• 1st Place: Roymer Cata, Global Community High School, Las Vegas, Nevada; Dayron Guerra Olivera, Global Community High School, Las Vegas, Nevada; Fermin Leon, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, Mexico; Jose Reyes, Colegio Ignacio Zaragoza, Saltillo, Mexico
• 2nd Place: Melinda Lopez, Colegio Ignacio Zaragoza, Saltillo, Mexico; Marialuz Lopez Varela, Cholla High School, Tucson, Arizona; Sarahi Perez, Fallbrook Union High School; Salvador Valdes, Colegio Ignacio Zaragoza, Saltillo, Mexico
• 3rd Place: Madison Elder, Sage Creek High School, Carlsbad, California; Abby Gossaye, Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School, North Las Vegas, Nevada; Maddie Isidron, Village Christian High School, Los Angeles, California; Jade Jow, Canyon Springs High School, Moreno Valley, California

The California Sol Great Debate was made possible in part by support from State Farm and Sands.