Nearly 300 students connect at fast-paced, friendly edition of NHI’s flagship Texas LDZ at Trinity University

Making its return to Trinity University, the 2026 Texas Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session – better known as the Texas LDZ — brought nearly 300 students to Trinity University in San Antonio for the flagship NHI program. 

“Everything is bigger in Texas, and that held true for the 2026 Texas LDZ,” said educational director Paul Morales. “The significant size of the program matched the growth we saw in our participants. We had a very diverse cohort with multiple states and countries represented, so our participants had very enriching conversations that benefited from a variety of life experiences and visions for the future were brought to the table.

“The program was intense, moving at a fast pace to allow for everyone to be a part of the experience, but at the same time, it had a very friendly atmosphere,” he continued. “We were happy to see connections being formed all around as our participants fully join our network of NHIers and find a new community … Overall, we are certain that many participants went back home prepared to lead by identifying the assets in their communities and leveraging them for a better life.” 

Kaitlyn Mendez, from Bishop Dunne Catholic School in Dallas, initially ran for a Supreme Court justice position and wasn’t elected, but then became a proposal coordinator in the House of Representatives. 

“I realized how important my job really was and how much it affected everything that was going on in the House,” she recalled. “I’ve definitely changed as a person going in. I’ve never been the quietest person, but I definitely was never extroverted … I talked to so many new people; I’ve never been in a room surrounded by so many like-minded individuals, especially so many like-minded smart Hispanic students, and I grew because they all helped me to see my potential and how good I could be, and I’ve also become more talkative and more extroverted through that experience.” 

Mendez aims to be a doctor, practicing emergency medicine in a Level I trauma center, and has a number of Ivy League schools and other top-tier schools on her list for college applications later this year. 

2026 Texas LDZ office holders

This year’s top elected officials included: 

Governor: Martha Abascal Sherwell Delgadillo, Sedbergh School, Cumbria, England

Lt. Governor: Emily Sultani Lowry, International School of the Americas, San Antonio, Texas

Speaker of the House: Maria Angela Saldaña Villarreal, Eagle Pass High School, Eagle Pass, Texas

This year’s Supreme Court included: 

Chief Justice: 

• Emiliano Martinez, Idea Riverview, Brownsville, Texas

Justices:

• Josue Camarillo Giron, Westchester Academy for International Studies, Houston, Texas
• Sarah Flores, Westchester Academy for International Studies, Houston, Texas
• Mykelle Garcia, Cotulla High School, Cotulla Texas 
• Stella Guerra Garza, Incarnate Word Academy, Corpus Christi, Texas 
• Lucas Montilla, Glenbard West High School, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
• Alex Ordoñez, Westchester Academy for International Studies, Houston, Texas
• Valdez Reyeros
• Rito Sauceda, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, Texas 

Executive cabinet:

• Raul Caballero Diaz, Academia Internacional Boquete, Alto Boquete, Panama
• Mariana Chaparro Gutierrez, John F. Kennedy, The American School of Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico
• Andres Chavez Ortega, John F. Kennedy, The American School of Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico
• Natalia Miranda, YES Prep East End, Houston, Texas 
• Samuel Morales, Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Houston, Texas 
• Maeli Sanchez Carmona, Pleasant Valley High School, Bettendorf, Iowa

2026 Texas LDZ Award Winners

• Most Promising Leaders: Adalin Salgado, Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School, Chicago, Illinois, and Aaron Murga, El Paso High School, El Paso, Texas 
• Ricky Miranda Award: Jorge Gomez Ramirez, Tomball Memorial High School, Tomball, Texas 

House of Representatives awards included: 

• Most Distinguished Representative: Samuel Tooker, Mathis High School, Mathis, Texas
• Most Persuasive Representative: Kenny Herrera, Lane Tech High School, Chicago, Illinois
• Best Debater: Alejandro Salcedo, James E. Taylor High School, Katy, Texas 
• Best Author of a Resolution: Ryland Angle, BASIS Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizoma
• Outstanding Legislator: Chloe Chapa, Flour Bluff High School, Corpus Christi, Texas

Senate awards included:

• Most Distinguished Senator: Victory Cintron, Houston Academy for International Studies, Houston, Texas 
• Most Persuasive Senator: Alex Flores, Jr., Jubilee San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas  
• Best Debater: Pablo Talavera, El Paso High School, El Paso, Texas 
• Best Author of a Resolution: Daniel Perez, Jr., St. Anthony Catholic High School, San Antonio, Texas 
• Outstanding Legislator: Olivia Chiampou, South Texas ISD Science Academy, Mercedes, Texas 

Judicial Branch awards included:

• Outstanding Member: Stella Guerra Garza, Incarnate Word Academy, Corpus Christi, Texas 
• Best Orator: Isaac Hinojosa, Harlingen School of Health Professions, Harlingen, Texas 
• Top Attorney Team: Niavana Escamilla, Sharyland Pioneer High School, McAllen, Texas and Mia Garcia, Young Women’s Leadership Academy, San Antonio, Texas
• Attorney Finalists: Joaquin Beall, Briar Woods High School, Ashburn, VA, and Rodrigo Rosas, Escuela Carlos Pereyra, Torreón, Mexico

Passed Resolutions (with authors)

Connecting Hispanic, English and Spanish Speakers Through Penpalling (Lynelle Cantero, Bishop Dunne Catholic High School, Dallas, Texas)

Programa Puentes Comunitarios Para la Integración de Inmigrantes (María Fernanda Padilla, Instituto de Ciencias, A.C., Zapopan, Mexico)

Smile Supply Project (Sophia Saenz, Coronado High School, El Paso, Texas)

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