‘I can be both’: How NHI inspired 10 students from one Arizona school

Imagine living in Mexico and going to high school in the United States every day. For Maria Mexia, who attends Yuma Catholic High School in Yuma, Ariz., that’s how she experiences and is building her Latina identity, and that’s part of what makes NHI so resonant to these students. 

That’s what Regina Legarreta, NHI’s associate director of programs for the Western U.S., found when she came to the school in February 2025 — and recruited 10 students from Yuma Catholic to enroll for the California Sol Great Debate program in a single day. 

“They see an opportunity to show their Mexican side, but also their American side. And they’re like, ‘I can do this at this program,’” Legarreta said, noting that being from El Paso and having family in Mexico gave her a similar perspective, allowing her to connect with the Yuma Catholic students. 

The private school is able to serve both American and Mexican students, drawing students  from San Luis Rio Colorado just over the Arizona-Sonora border, and has a history of sending students to NHI programs – which Legarreta revived last year after reaching out to school officials who were receptive to her coming and telling students more about NHI’s learning opportunities. 

Mexia was one of those students intrigued by Legarreta’s presentation. 

“It just brought me to just be inspired and wanting to live that experience,” Mexia said upon learning about NHI. “I just thought it was really interesting, and I really wanted to get involved with it. I thought this was also great for college. I just saw so many opportunities within it.” 

At the California Sol Great Debate last summer, held at the University of San Diego, Legarreta noticed that initially, the Yuma group of students stayed within their own familiar circle. But once they had opportunities to connect with Mexican students at the program, including contingents from Saltillo and Guadalajara, they were the first of those from U.S. high schools to do so. 

“What I have heard from talking to a few students was ‘I had never been to a program like this, and I didn’t even know this was something that existed,’” Legarreta shared. “They could be as Mexican as they wanted to be, and as American as they wanted to be in one place, instead of … when I’m in school, I have to be American, but when I’m home, I have to be Mexican … at NHI, I can be both.” 

Mexia, who participated in the cross-examination category, was motivated to debate when she signed up for the program, but was surprised by the immersive nature of the program as her and fellow participants wrestled with the topic of which learning techniques are better for students. 

“It was just very interesting,” she recalled. “It was more like a science experiment, because as we were debating about [the topic], we were living through it, through the group working, the partner groups working, and then working by ourselves,” adding that the learning styles they were debating were “incorporated throughout the whole experience.” 

She also says the friendships she made at the program – especially with her debate partner — have carried on beyond the program, and she’s committed to participate in the Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session this summer. Specifically, she’ll attend the Colorado LDZ at Colorado State University in June to continue her NHI journey. 

Beyond LDZ and the Collegiate World Series, she’s looking to do her university studies at a school where she can also play soccer competitively. 

In part thanks to her Great Debate experience, the University of San Diego is on her list. 

Legarreta will be visiting Yuma Catholic High School in January to continue recruiting for the 2026 summer programs. Limited spots remain available; students in the Western United States interested in learning more about the programs can contact her directly via email.