2026 New Mexico LDZ delivers ‘beautifully orchestrated week of chemistry, connection, and continuity’

2026 was a special year for New Mexico’s flagship NHI event. 

Held at the University of New Mexico from June 7-14, the 2026 Dennis Chavez New Mexico LDZ Youth Legislative Session brought together 120 New Mexico high school students to exemplify the core NHI concept of community equity building — an asset-based mindset for growing and developing communities, vital in the organizational building, management requirements, and sustainable engagement woven into NHI’s mission. 

“Completing our fifth year back in New Mexico embodies the essence of community equity building,” said Gloria de Leon, NHI’s co-founder, executive senior vice president, and director of the Dennis Chavez New Mexico LDZ. “It was a beautifully orchestrated week of chemistry, connection, and continuity. New Mexico is privy to an annual return of staff, creating a stakeholder pipeline. They dearly love and support the program as their own.” 

Students attending the program were inspired, feeling the work that staffers put into the program and the 40-plus years of LDZ history preceding the 2026 New Mexico edition. 

“Of all the summer programs I’ve been to, I felt connected to the people I was mentored by”, said Astrid Winterstein, a participating student from the Mandela International School in Santa Fe. “I never thought about going home, I really think I found my place here and that feeling just expands with every single moment.” 

“My dad told me the principles he learned continue to be applied every day in life,” said Isabella Sanchez of Sandia High School in Albuquerque, of her father Eric Sanchez, who attended an LDZ program in 1991. “New Mexico is a beautiful state. I appreciate what the state does for us and how I can use those resources to build and create opportunities. Within the New Mexico NHI family, our connections are inseparable; the leadership is unbreakable.” 

Full support for the Dennis Chavez New Mexico LDZ program is made possible through funding by the New Mexico State Legislature for students from New Mexico, with Senator Michael Padilla’s support instrumental to the state’s continued partnership with NHI. 

House of Representatives awards included: 

Most Distinguished Representative: Jesus Legarreta, Alta Vista Early College High School, Anthony

Most Persuasive: Oliverio Acevedo, Las Cruces High School, Las Cruces

Best Debater: Fatima Garcia, Capital High School, Santa Fe

Best Author of a Resolution: Tina Ding, Centennial High School, Las Cruces

Outstanding Legislator: Natalie Martinez, Goddard High School, Roswell

Senate awards included:

Most Distinguished Senator: Nathan Arreola, Gadsden High School, Anthony

Most Persuasive: Zane Anderson, Explore Academy, Albuquerque

Best Debater: Nilasha Basnyat, Centennial High School, Las Cruces

Best Author of a Resolution: Adaiah Gonzales, Santa Fe Preparatory High School

Outstanding Legislator: Archer Chavez, Explore Academy, Albuquerque

Judicial Branch awards included:

Outstanding Member: Luna Torrez, Sandia Preparatory School, Albuquerque

Best Orator: Isabel Maldonado, Alta Vista Early College High School, Anthony

Top Attorney Team:  Daniel Seletskiy, La Cueva High School, Albuquerque, and Noah Sanchez, St. Michael’s High School, Santa Fe

Attorney Finalists: Eva Abrego, Highland High School, Albuquerque, and Maylie Breen, Explore Academy, Albuquerque

This year’s top elected officials included: 

Governor: Daniel Madrid, Santa Rosa High School, Santa Rosa

Lt. Governor: Soraya Kamali, Arrowhead Park Early College High School, Las Cruces

Speaker of the House: Sophia Rieck, V. Sue Cleveland High School, Rio Rancho

This year’s Supreme Court included: 

Chief Justice: Geovani Marin, Alta Vista Early College High School, Anthony

Justices:

• Morgan Phillips, Valley High School, Albuquerque
• Luna Torrez, Sandia Preparatory School, Albuquerque
• Rogelio Betancourt, Alta Vista Early College High School, Anthony
• Alexandria Landavazo, Albuquerque Institute of Mathematics and Science, Albuquerque
• Emily Smolik, Chaparral High School, Chaparral
• Mathyiel Torres, Alta Vista Early College High School, Anthony
• Hannah Mulkey, Bosque School, Albuquerque
• Kiana Portillo, Santa Teresa High School, Sunland Park

This year’s executive cabinet included:

• Flavia Fernandez, Mandela International Magnet School, Santa Fe
• Saul Hernandez, Santa Teresa High School, Sunland Park
• Esteban Parra, Mandela International Magnet School, Santa Fe
• Iphigenia Rogers, Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque
• Melva Thomas, Centennial High School, Las Cruces

Top Awards: 

Most Promising Male Award: Kingston Botello Ortega, Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School, Albuquerque

Most Promising Female Award: Rosa Marsh-Martinez, Academy for Technology and the Classics, Santa Fe

Ricky Miranda Memorial Award: Alejandro Martinez, Alta Vista Early College High School, Anthony

Resolutions Passed (with authors)

• Creative Dance Industry Divisions Act (Adaiah Gonzales, Santa Fe Preparatory School, Santa Fe)
• New Mexico Artist Exploration Program (Adie Heinemann, Bosque School, Albuquerque)
• The New Mexico Music Culture Program (Ethan Martinez, St. Pius X High School, Albuquerque)
• Crescit Eundo – It Goes as It Grows (Natalie Quezada Oranday, Explore Academy, Albuquerque)
• Students in Higher Education (Nilasha Basnyat, Centennial High School, Las Cruces)
• The New Mexico Youth Research Enrichment Act (Zane Anderson, Explore Academy, Albuquerque)
• Growing in Harmony With Nature (Azriel Ortiz, East Mountain High School, Paa-ko)
• Expanding Medical Career Opportunities for Rural Students (Natalie Martinez, Goddard High School, Roswell)
• Expanding Hispanic Heritage Programs in New Mexico (Fatima Garcia, Capital High School, Santa Fe)
• New Mexico Food, Land, and Cultural Equity Act (Elijah Anguiano, Albuquerque Institute of Mathematics and Science, Albuquerque)