July 11, 2000

Over 200 Hispanic students from Texas will convene at Southwestern University in Georgetown for the 18th consecutive program of the Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session. Since 1981, the National Hispanic Institute has worked with high ability Hispanic youth from throughout the nation to increase the number of students who attend and finish college. To date, over 35,000 youth have participated in NHI sponsored programs.

"We're not alone on this one," explains Ernesto Nieto, president and founder of NHI. "This year, Wells Fargo Bank has joined us in an effort that includes working with youth in New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and California. We appreciate the help and, more important, we know that an experience like the LDZ does a lot to motivate youth to accomplish high goals for themselves." According to Nieto, the Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session is a crucial learning experience for Latino youth. "The best gift parents can give their children," he states, "is the self confidence and self esteem that comes from experiences like the LDZ. As 15 and 16 year olds, children start learning to see themselves as having important roles to play in the larger community as future leaders. For Hispanic students who invariably have to fend off the confining labels of being minorities or people of color, this experience is particularly crucial to their emotional and psychological health. At the LDZ, they experience success in ways that alter the way they see themselves. As a result, they become motivated to compete at higher levels and no longer allow external influences to limit or hinder their development and abilities to achieve. They're no longer afraid to speak out or see themselves as playing significant roles in society, particularly as future leaders of the Hispanic community."

To participate in programs of the National Hispanic Institute, students must have at least a 3.2 grade point average, be enrolled in high school honors and advanced studies, and have firm intentions to enroll in a college or university after finishing high school. "In doing this work," Nieto continues, "we help strengthen and expand the base of future leaders not only for the Latino community, but society in general. The first step, however, is for the students to attend colleges and universities that inspire them, provide them with a global view of the world, and encourage them to go back to their communities as leaders. The LDZ is the first step in learning to make a difference in the life of others through community service.

During their 8-day stay in Georgetown, the students discuss and debate topics of interest to the US Hispanic community. They are also introduced to public policy through a mock youth government experience at the state capitol, and spend an entire day working directly with college and university admission representatives from throughout the nation. These institutions include MIT, Stanford, Notre Dame, DePaul University, University of Tulsa, Rice University, Santa Clara University, Austin College, University of Chicago, Colorado State University, and many others.

The National Hispanic Institute sees over 10,000 prospective participants each year nationwide for the highly selective Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session. Only 900 are selected to participate. Host colleges and universities include Pomona College in Claremont, California, Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado, DePaul University in Chicago, and Southwestern University.

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