‘So much more than a debate competition’: NHI returns to University of San Diego for six magical days

Once again featuring at the University of San Diego, the California Sol Great Debate brought nearly 140 students from across the United States and Mexico together for six days of competition and collaboration. 

“We’ve witnessed so much more than a debate competition. We’ve seen teamwork that felt like magic, inspired stories, glimpses into your communities and families, and growth that felt like it was happening at the speed of light,” said Paola Hernandez, educational director for the program, at the awards ceremony on its final night. 

“You weren’t afraid to shine—and that takes real courage,” she continued. “Throughout this week, you didn’t just compete. You imagined, inspired, and practiced leadership in a space built just for that: The National Hispanic Institute. NHI is more than an organization that organizes summer programs for bright youth. It is a laboratory of light. Where your voice becomes power, your questions become action, and your peers become familia. Nuestro compromiso no se acaba aquí.” 

“This was one of the best programs I have ever been a part of,” said Regina Legarreta, who served as onsite director and HQ program manager. “The students came in excited and nervous, but they never let their nerves take over. They were open to anything and ready to start working as soon as they checked in. Seeing students from all across the West Coast and Mexico work together as if they had known each other previously was amazing to see.

“Students knew it was more than just a debate competition — they knew that what they did and learned that week, was going to be something they used for the rest of their lives,” she added. “They worked together to create their own family within their team. The California Sol Great Debate is such a special program that brings people from different cities, states and even countries together. But you would never know that all the work they did was done in a week with no prior experience.” 

Victoria Lopez from Young Women’s STEAM Research and Preparatory Academy in El Paso, Texas, who won the Extemporaneous Speaking competition, said she chose the San Diego-hosted program to “push myself out of my comfort zone,” rather than go to one of the Great Debate programs in Texas that El Paso students tend to favor. 

“It definitely met my expectations and exceeded them,” she said. “Going in, I was very scared, and I’d never done debate before. I’ve never done any sort of speaking like that.  

“I didn’t expect them to teach us so well and be so supportive of us,” she said of the training students received from staff..” I thought we were just going to  be thrown into the fire, but we were definitely like supported very well.” 

In addition to growing in confidence as a public speaker, Lopez got a resonant first-hand lesson in the power of mentorship.

“My mentors there taught me a lot, and without them, I don’t think I would have gone to where I did. So, the second I got back to school, I joined my school ambassador group, which I had been hesitating on. I’m definitely taking back that mentorship, leadership, and helping people who I think were in my position.” 

2006 California Sol Great Debate Award Winners

Cross Examination

• 1st Place: Alex Avalos, Mission Hills High School, San Marcos, California, and Matias Posada-Awad, La Salle College Preparatory, Pasadena, California 
• 2nd Place: Scotty Hernandez, Equipo Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Krystal Torres, Del Norte High School, San Diego, California
• All-State Leader: Kira Jervey, La Salle College Preparatory, Pasadena, California 
• All-State Member: Arsema Fentahun, Spring Valley High School, Las Vegas, Nevada

Oratory

• 1st Place: Robert Castellanos-Lopez, San Marcos High School, San Marcos, Texas 
• 2nd Place: Sofia Ayala, Colegio Ignacio Zaragoza, Saltillo, México
• All-State: Tiberio Peña, Colegio Ignacio Zaragoza, Saltillo, México

Extemporaneous Speaking

• 1st Place: Victoria Lopez, Young Women’s STEAM Research and Preparatory Academy, El Paso, Texas 
• 2nd Place: Anara Minalez, West Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada
• All-State: Jorge Chahul, Colegio Americano de Torreón, Torreón, México

Athenaeum 

• 1st Place: Max Perez, La Salle College Preparatory High School, Pasadena, California; Valeria Garcia Peña, Colegio Americano de Torreón, Torreón, México; Adis Alvarez, West Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada; and Kaitlin Gonzalez, Vanguard Academy Rembrant Early College High School, Pharr, Texas 
• 2nd Place: Antonio Delgado, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, México; Jude Edwards, IMPACT Early College High School, Baytown, Texas; Anthony Castellanos Perez, Global Community High School, Las Vegas, Nevada; and Enrique Garibaldi, Yuma Catholic High School, Yuma, Arizona 
• 3rd Place: Valery Pérez, Global Community High School, Las Vegas, Nevada; Maria Favela, King Chavez Community High School, San Diego, California; Valery Laiseca, Global Community High School, Las Vegas, Nevada; and Natalia Acosta, Global Community High School, Las Vegas, Nevada

Transformation Awards

• Katia Tzec, La Canada High School, La Cañada Flintridge, California
• Analily Rodriguez, Young Women’s STEAM Research and Preparatory Academy, El Paso, Texas 
• Matías Vargas, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, México
• Andres Cacho, Cristo Rey San Diego High School, San Diego, California 
• Luke Messner, West Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Genesis Thompson, Clark High School, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Morlet Domínguez, Colegio Ignacio Zaragoza, Saltillo, México
• Ana Sivira, Global Community High School, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Nina Moreno, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, México
• Robert Nuñez, Chula Vista Learning Community Charter High School, San Diego, California
• Greta Aldape, Colegio Ignacio Zaragoza, Saltillo, México

Hall of Fame Award

• Mariana Contreras, Xavier College Preparatory, Phoenix, Arizona

The California Sol Great Debate is made possible in part by support from the Bezos Family Foundation, Sands Cares, and State Farm.