‘The opportunity to make a difference’: Eight more NHI volunteers tell their stories

To celebrate National Volunteer Month, NHI is gathering the stories of a number of volunteers who are giving their time, energy, and knowledge to help advance the organization.

We’ve identified 24 outstanding volunteers — by no means a complete list — and throughout the month, we’ll be highlighting them in a series of stories. We’ve done a first installment featuring eight outstanding volunteers, and here we’re highlighting eight more.

Adrian Alfaro

Saint Joseph Academy, Brownsville, Texas

For students at Saint Joseph Academy in Brownsville, the Texas Great Debate is something of a rite of passage – with those students instrumental in Tip of Texas’ long-running success, evinced by the region’s multiple Silver Cup wins. 

For Adrian Alfaro, the Texas Great Debate made him realize he was becoming part of the greater community of NHIers. 

“So as soon as I really understood that there are so many more great people, people just like me, people who are eager to learn more about the community, the culture, the history and about each other, that hooked me in,” he said. Being at the program also made him ask himself, “How can I remain in this program, in this institute, for as long as possible?” 

From there, Alfaro started coaching the Tip team, aware of what that legacy meant. 

“I suppose there is this sort of external pressure that you’re part of a group of champions,” he said. “They’ve always been champions … but we try as much as we can to have our students understand that it’s really never about that. It’s a great program, but at the end of the day, the trophy is just a piece of metal. What you get from it is the values, the experiences, the people, the memories.” 

And, as focused as he’s been on the growth of students he’s been coaching, he’s also impressed with how invested his NHI mentors have been along the way in his development as a leader.

“You don’t just meet them once,” he marveled. “These people come back to you and they call you, they text you, and they talk to you, and they really do care about your own personal growth.”  

Anom Gonzalez Martinez

TMI Episcopal, San Antonio, Texas

Anom Gonzalez Martinez began his NHI journey at the Texas Great Debate, and though he had what he described as a rough start in the competition, loved the experience. 

“I wanted to come back because I wanted to give the debaters an experience that I didn’t have,” he said, stepping into a coaching role for students in his San Antonio region. 

“We want to obviously bring out the best in them,” he said. “We were taught to use inquiry-based learning, which I love doing. I love questioning the kids and letting them find their own answers.” 

He’s also since staffed multiple programs, enjoying the different facets that each one helps students develop. 

“What keeps me coming back is the students,” he said, “I genuinely think that not only myself, but all the staff members, not only from San Antonio, but all NHI staff, can change those students’ lives … and they can just grow so much, not only with speaking, but just being more confident in finding yourself.

“I think NHI is a beautiful experience,” he added, “The bonds that you can make, how much you can grow in such a short period of time … it’s what keeps me coming back.” 

Christine Lizardi

Young Women’s Leadership Academy, San Antonio, Texas

“My journey with NHI began when I participated in the 2023 Texas Star Great Debate, where I was presented with the Estrellita Award,” she recalled, noting “this award recognizes individuals who embody the heart and soul of Ester Nieto, shining as a guiding light for others. Winning this award marked the beginning of my personal growth, motivating me to uplift others and encourage them to find their own voices.” 

She’s progressed in her journey, becoming co-head coach for the San Antonio region this year, as well as staffing three programs in 2024 — the Texas Great Debate, the Texas Star Great Debate, and the California Sol Great Debate — the same year she won Most Promising Leader recognition at the Texas LDZ. 

“What mattered most to me was the growth I experienced,” she said of that LDZ, “learning the true value of leadership, collaboration, and the power of turning challenges into opportunities for growth.” 

Recognizing she’s grown a great deal since that first program, she said, “I’ve developed an asset-based mindset and consistently challenge myself to take on more leadership roles and push beyond my comfort zone. Staffing with NHI has reinforced my ability to leave a meaningful impact on my community, starting with the students I work with. I’ve also become more open to self-reflection and seeking new methods of growth, learning from the people around me every step of the way.” 

Sam Molloy

St. Thomas High School, Houston, Texas

“When I got to the Great Debate, the process of training and everything is one thing, but when I got there, I really understood what NHI was building, what the whole purpose was, and I got really interested from there,” said Sam Molloy about his initial Texas Great Debate experience in 2022, representing Houston. “Volunteering was something I could do, and NHI gave me that pathway to get involved and allow me to have an effect on others like the one I experienced.” 

Molloy has elevated to co-head coach status for the Houston region for this year, and has also served as a Great Debate assistant tournament director – which is teaching him about what he’s  “I learned that I really like to be on my feet and in an environment where I’m constantly having to adapt, and in an environment that’s always pushing me to do better and be better.” 

In encouraging others to volunteer with NHI, he said, “I would tell people is the whole point of it is to make you kind of go a little out of your comfort zone … but there are the resources, there’s the ability, and there’s always going to be someone there to help you. NHI will make sure that you have the ability to not only get involved, but the opportunity to make a difference.” 

Camila Montes

Coronado High School, El Paso, Texas

Even though her older brother had participated in NHI, Camila Montes wasn’t sure she wanted to participate in NHI initially and passed up the chance to be part of the Great Debate experience. But once she did attend her first program, the 2024 Colorado LDZ, she was sold. 

“That experience completely changed my perspective,” she recalled. “The people I met, the environment, and the overall experience were incredible it made me want to continue my involvement, not just as a participant but as a volunteer.”

She’s since had the opportunity to do that in El Paso. “As I’ve worked with students, I’ve noticed how much they grow — not just in their communication skills but also in their confidence and leadership abilities,” she reflected. “It’s amazing to see them start off a bit unsure of themselves, only to witness them stepping up, voicing their ideas, and supporting one another by the end of a program. Whether it’s during the programs themselves or while helping them prepare, the transformation is always inspiring.” 

Volunteering has also allowed her the chance to grow. “Volunteering with NHI has taught me a lot about myself,” she said. “It’s shown me the value of leadership from a different perspective, not just being a leader but helping others find their own leadership voices. I’ve learned how to be more patient, how to guide without taking over, and how to create a positive environment where others feel empowered. It’s been a rewarding experience that pushes me to continue growing alongside the students I work with.” 

Manuel Treviño

Prepa Tec Campus Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina, Nuevo Léon, Mexico 

Many NHI high school volunteers step into established alliances and learn from leaders who have been in place for years. Manuel Treviño’s journey is decidedly different — he’s helping to build a brand-new alliance in Monterrey. It was through participating in the Collegiate World Series program, and interacting with staff members there, that he realized what he wanted the next part of his NHI journey to be. 

And then, while staffing a Texas LDZ program, his vision became even clearer. 

“I had the opportunity to meet all of the people from Texas; essentially all of them participated in the Texas Great Debate, and because of that, I started getting the idea that I needed to bring the Texas Great Debate to Monterrey. I need to bring this experience to students in Monterrey. And also, that connection with the staff members allowed me to kind of have this revelation of the need for leadership in Monterrey.” 

He’s preparing for that initial trip to Texas this summer, having recruited 12 students to make up the city’s first-ever team as its head coach. 

“We are really trying to integrate not just learning about debate, but instead learning about everything about NHI as a whole, starting to implement the Fundamentals, and learning how to become a part of your community and its leadership.” 

Audrina Valdez

Westchester Academy for International Studies, Houston, Texas

“I progressed from participating in NHI programs to volunteering because I saw how welcoming and supportive the NHI community was,” said Valdez, who, like Molloy, progressed from her first program to become a co-head coach looking to grow the community. “It became a safe space for me to grow as a leader, and I wanted to give back by helping others do the same. As I continued volunteering, I developed a passion for mentoring students and guiding them in discovering their leadership potential.” 

Valdez has been buoyed by watching those students she’s worked with develop as students and as young leaders, noting, “One of the most rewarding parts of volunteering has been seeing how students grow—not just in their confidence and public speaking skills, but in their ability to think critically and lead with purpose. I love helping them develop leadership skills that extend beyond NHI programs, and encouraging them to apply these abilities in their extracurriculars and academic pursuits.” 

She recognizes that volunteering has also helped her develop as well. “Through NHI, I’ve realized that I have a passion for recognizing and cultivating others’ potential,” she said. “This mindset has shaped my career aspirations and has led me toward a future in law, where I can continue advocating for and empowering others. Volunteering has also helped me become a more confident leader who can facilitate discussions and bring groups together toward a common goal.” 

Linda Villarreal

Mary Carroll High School, Corpus Christi, Texas

When Linda Villarreal started participating in the Great Debate, she wasn’t sure what to expect from the experience. Early into the process, she realized that the program wasn’t just about how to debate – and she was up to the challenge. 

“I just remember going and leaving, saying, ‘My brain is exhausted. I’ve been thinking so much for the three hours we just trained,’” she recalled. “But I remember I loved and I still do love the conversation. I was so fascinated by the conversation, because I’ve never been to a place where they make you think this way, and not in a way how school makes you think, but in a way that just makes you want to think, and figure out, ‘Why do I say this? Why do I use this language?’” 

From there, she began volunteering, noting that volunteering was becoming more infused in her home life as she and her mother – who works for Corpus Christi ISD and is now a co-PA – hosted meetings at their home.

“I think there’s been so much growth over the last year,” she said of the region she’s been helping to grow and develop. “We have such a solid group of kids now, the ones on staff, and even the ones participating in programming … I can already tell these kids are going to come back, and I can already see the growth we’re going to have through them, the passion that they have for NHI.”