LDZ, NHI Programs
National LDZ gathers students from five nations to create ‘fabric of resilience, hope and inspiration’

Voices from across the United States, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama were amplified at the 2025 edition of the National LDZ at Augustana College — not only as students went through the eight days of NHI’s flagship program, but by the National Public Radio affiliate in the Quad Cities which helped tell their story.
“Everyone in here has different values,” said Marcos Holstein, from Colegio La Esperanza in David, Panama, to the WVIK-FM reporter sharing news of NHI at Augustana. “They have grown up in different circumstances or situations, and everyone being around is able to value everyone’s opinion and use what they’ve grown up with or what they’ve understood living up until now, to form an opinion, and everyone have a collective vote on something everyone can understand.”
The 76 students came together for the youth legislative session event; Educational Director Catalina Berry noted their diverse perspectives made the experience fuller and richer for all who attended.
“I learned so much from the group of students who attended, and I felt so inspired by their outlook on life and their strength during rough moments,” she said. “We had such a diverse group of individuals from all over which added to the beauty of so many threads being woven together to create a fabric of resilience, hope and inspiration. I left thinking differently and grateful for the impact everyone there had on me.”
She also observed that some students surprised themselves by how they grew and developed over the course of the eight days.
“As always, participants grow as the days go by with some feeling limited by their own beliefs and after conversations with staff that challenge them and have them think differently, they are able to speak up and ultimately have their proposals passed and their voices heard,” Berry added.
“I’m just learning how to use my voice and advocate, not only for myself but for other people in my community,” said Chloe Siqueros, from TMI Episcopal in San Antonio, Texas, who served as President for this edition of the program, which took place from July 6-13.
Top honors
Award winners at the program included:
House of Representatives
Most Distinguished Representative
Elenny Marte, Muhlenberg High School, Laureldale, Pennsylvania
Best Debater
Vinnie Everastico, Highland Park High School, Highland Park, Illinois
Outstanding Legislator
Jayleana DaLessio, Muhlenberg High School, Laureldale, Pennsylvania
Best Author of a Resolution
Kimberly Garay, Young Women’s Leadership Academy, San Antonio, Texas
Most Persuasive Representative
Shaggy Prophete, Academia de Liderazgo UCE, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
Senate
Most Distinguished Senator
Sebastian Meré, Colegio Verbo, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Best Debater
Carla Vallejo, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, Mexico
Outstanding Legislator
Cristian German, Centro de Excelencia Prof. Luis Encarnación Nolasco, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Best Author of a Resolution
Alberto Ramirez, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, Mexico
Most Persuasive
Marcos Holstein, Colegio La Esperanza, David, Panama
Supreme Court and Attorneys
Chief Justice
Rodolfo De Leon, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, Mexico
Justices
- Isa Brown, Manteo High School, Manteo, North Carolina
- Camila Castro, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, Houston, Texas
- Oscar Cepeda, Montgomery High School, Montgomery Township, New Jersey
- Jalynn Martinez, Palatine High School, Palatine, Illinois
Outstanding Member
Jalynn Martinez, Palatine High School, Palatine, Illinois
Best Orator (Attorney)
Mauro Talamas, TecMilenio Campus Cumbres, Monterrey, Mexico
Top Attorney Team:
- Alvaro Castillo, Colegio La Ilustración, Mazatenango, Guatemala
- Fermin Leon, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, Mexico
Top Elected and Appointed Officials
Speaker of the House
Paula Pirela, Liberal Arts and Science Academy, Austin, Texas
Vice President
Bruno Andrews, Boston College High School, Boston, Massachusetts
President
Chloe Siqueros, TMI Episcopal, San Antonio, Texas
Cabinet Members:
- Javier Correa, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, Mexico
- Sofia Cunningham, Bronxville High School, Bronxville, New York
- Fernando Segovia, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, Mexico
- Amanda Zúñiga, John F. Kennedy, The American School of Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico
Authors of Passed Resolutions
- Manny Oforgaram-Edochie, Muhlenberg High School, Laureldale, Pennsylvania (Expanding Access to Community-Based Preventative Health Care)
- Shaggy Prophete, Academia de Liderazgo UCE, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic (La Salud Mental de Jovenes y Estudiantes en RD)
- Karina Rivera, Maine West High School, Des Plaines, Illinois
Special Awards
Most Promising Leaders
- Bidadari Hu, Radford School, El Paso, Texas
- David Macias, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, Mexico
Ricky Miranda Memorial Award
This award is named for an early NHIer who tragically died in a car accident while in college; it is awarded to a student who, in the face of adversity, stays hopeful, stays grounded, and never stops believing in their ability to grow.
- Rugi Gueda, DePaul Cristo Rey High School, Cincinnati, Ohio
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