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 Preventive 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

The National LDZ was made possible in part by support from the Bezos Family Foundation.