Students from four nations, boosted by Seton Hall’s hosting, bring energy to NHI’s American LDZ program

Debuting at Seton Hall University this summer, the 2026 edition of the American LDZ brought together nearly 140 students from four nations for the East Coast edition of NHI’s flagship program, modeled after the federal government to provide lessons in public policymaking for future leaders. 

“Returning to a Northeast program was particularly special to me. This is a community where I spent many years living, learning, and growing, so coming back in this capacity was deeply meaningful,” said Gabriela Morales, co-educational director of the program. “What has always made our Northeast programs so special is the truly international community we build. Our students come not only from across the United States, but also in large delegations from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala. 

“I believe it is essential for young people to be exposed to peers from different countries and backgrounds—to discover not only what connects us, but also to understand and appreciate how we are different,” she added. “When we listen to one another and learn from those differences, they can become some of our greatest strengths.” 

Morales noted that the American LDZ being at Seton Hall University for the first time brought a new energy to the program — including a visit to New York City for participants — and she sees a long-lasting partnership possible. 

“The university community was incredibly welcoming, and their staff went above and beyond to ensure that our students had a meaningful experience and that every aspect of the program ran smoothly,” she said. “We are deeply grateful for their generosity, hospitality, and constant support.”

Students participating in the American LDZ program enjoyed this step in their NHI leadership journey. The eight-day immersive learning experience provides unique pathways for each student while bringing them together as one unified community. 

“My overall experience was amazing, one of the experiences in which I’ve grown the most in my entire life,” said Cruz Ramos of Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska, named one of the program’s Most Promising Leaders, participating in the executive cabinet and meeting participants from throughout the Americas. 

Ramos authored one of the five pieces of legislation passed at the convention, focused on building assets and encouraging literacy in rural communities – which he’s looking to implement in real life in his home state. 

“I have grown up and lived in a small farming town of 30 people in Iowa, and in these towns, lots of people never receive a proper education because they were born on a farm, lived on a farm, and lived on a farm their entire lives,” he explained. “My proposal was about bringing education to them … this is something that I’ve been working on and thinking about. I’m currently writing a full proposal that I’m going to bring to my county council , and hopefully, eventually, bring it up to the governor to get proper funding.” 

“I went into it not really knowing what was going to happen,” said Alexandra Poyo of George School in Newtown, Pennsylvania, named Most Persuasive Representative in the House of Representatives. “We were all a little bit unsure, but seeing people take that initiative and getting a lot of success out of that was really valuable. The entire program was filled with capable, extroverted, qualified people … and just being able to assert yourself and share your ideas was a really big part of it.” 

Alexa Hinojosa, from Founders Classical Academy of Leander in Leander, Texas, who served as chief justice at the program, came from the rare perspective of being a rising senior at the program, actually doing her Collegiate World Series program earlier in the summer before starting the LDZ. 

As team MVP for the Vanderbilt University team at CWS, she said NHI “opened doors for me that I previously would have never considered” — including preparing to apply to Vanderbilt later this year. At LDZ, she reports the program “gave me confidence to be able to speak in front of people and doing things that I wouldn’t expect myself to really be able to do in the past.” 

“Be open to doing things you wouldn’t expect to do,” she advises students participating in future LDZ programs. “The first couple of days are really stressful, but it really helps you push your limits and figure out where you’re able to stand. Don’t be afraid to just dive headfirst into things … do what you love and do what you love well.” 

This year’s top elected officials at the American LDZ included: 

President: Nicolás Culebro, John F. Kennedy, the American School of Querétaro, Querétaro, México

Vice President: Gabriel Petkov, Escuela Secundaria Universidad de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Speaker of the House: Alejandro Ayala, Prepa UDEM San Pedro, Santa Catarina, México

This year’s Supreme Court included: 

Chief Justice: 

• Alexa Hinojosa, Founders Classical Academy of Leander, Leander, Texas 

Justices:

• Salomé Armenteros, Escuela Secundaria de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Yoshihiro Campos, Tecnológico de Monterrey, GDL, Zapopan, México 
• Fred Gaona IV, Bishop Lynch High School, Dallas, Texas 
• Mia Jancachagua, Washington Latin Public Charter School, Washington, D.C. 
• Tyler Kanarek, Governor Livingston High School, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
• Brook Merritt, Samuel Clemens High School, Schertz, Texas 
• Deborah Polanco, Instituto Politécnico Cardenal Sancha, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
• Raylin Vásquez, Liceo Prof. Altagracia del Carmen Gutiérrez, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic

This year’s executive cabinet included:

• Audrey Carlisle, Westchester Academy of International Studies, Houston, Texas  
• Samuel Domínguez Alcántara, Colegio Episcopal San Marcos, Haina, Dominican Republic 
• Matt Kanarek, Governor Livingston High School, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
• Sebastian Medina, St. Mark’s School of Texas, Dallas, Texas  
• Cruz Ramos, Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha, Nebraska 
• Emma Wulff, Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Newton, Massachusetts

2026 American LDZ Top Awards: 

• Most Promising Leaders: Nayla Perez, LEAP Academy University Charter School, Camden, NJ and Cruz Ramos, Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha, Nebraska 
• Ricky Miranda Award: Pablo Mateo Limon, Instituto de Ciencias, Zapopan, México

House of Representatives awards included: 

• Most Distinguished Representative: Ana Victoria Solana, Escuela Sierra Nevada, Mexico City, Mexico
• Most Persuasive Representative: Alexandra Poyo, George School, Newtown, Pennsylvania 
• Best Debater: Mikayla Bellamy, Agnes Irwin School, Rosemont, Pennsylvania
• Best Author of a Resolution: Rebeca Ochoa, Universidad de Monterrey (Prepa UDEM), Nuevo León, México
• Outstanding Legislator: María Orozco, Instituto de Ciencias, Zapopan, México

Senate awards included:

• Most Distinguished Senator: Kamila Galindo Amador, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston, Texas
• Most Persuasive Senator:  Ana Lucia Molina, Westtown School, West Chester, Pennsylvania
• Best Debater: Jefferson Velásquez, Colegio Científico Tecnológico Einstein, San Antonio Suchitepéquez, Guatemala
• Best Author of a Resolution: Philippe Jones, TMI Episcopal, San Antonio, Texas
• Outstanding Legislator: Evan Rivera, Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Judicial Branch awards included:

• Outstanding Member: Yoshihiro Campos, Tecnologíco de Monterrey, GDL, Zapopan, Mexico 
• Best Orator: Aby Vera, Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, CA
• Top Attorney Team: Santiago Núñez, Instituto de Ciencias, Zapopan, México and Rosalina Ruiz, Instituto de Ciencias, Zapopan, Mexico
• Attorney Finalists: Aby Vera, Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, CA and Angelina Escudero, Bishop Montgomery High School, Torrance, CA

Passed Resolutions (with authors)

Latino Soul Connections for Detained Children (Ana Lucia Molina, Westtown School, West Chester, Pennsylvania)

City-Funded “Know Your Rights” Campaign (Kamila Galindo Amador, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston, Texas)

PTA (Political Teachings Act) (Nicolás Culebro, John F. Kennedy the American School of Queretaro, Querétaro, México)

Play it Forward: Youths For Access initiative (Philippe Jones, TMI Episcopal, San Antonio, Texas)

Rural Asset Activation and Literacy Act (RALA) (Cruz Ramos, Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha, NE)

The American LDZ is made possible in part by support from the Bezos Family Foundation.