National Hispanic Institute Kicks off the Summer With High School Grad Celebration and New Program for Rising Ninth Graders

June 16-20 was an action-packed week for the National Hispanic Institute in Las Vegas as the organization introduced Heroes, Heroines and Legends (HHL) to prepare rising ninth graders for its high school leadership development programs and hosted a celebratory luncheon for graduating seniors who participated in NHI programs during their high school years.

The initiatives were made possible through Sands’ latest grant to NHI, the nation’s leading organization for fostering future Latino leaders.

“In a single week, we were able to see eighth-grade graduates begin learning about leadership and the inherent strengths of their community, as well as celebrate our high school graduates, many of whom have completed our entire curriculum over three summers,” Nicole Nieto, executive vice president of NHI, said. “Seeing the leadership growth and advocacy potential we have created for Las Vegas youth with the support of Sands was incredibly gratifying.”

NHI brought the four-day HHL program to Las Vegas for the first time and partnered with Global Community High School to identify 29 students who demonstrated leadership capabilities. HHL enabled students to prepare for the transition to high school and introduced them to the organization’s leadership development programs, which they may begin as rising sophomores.

“HHL challenges students to search within themselves and family to find strengths and bravery, emphasizing asset-based thinking, which is the foundation of our curriculum,” Nieto said. “By uncovering assets within themselves and their community, they build a foundation to develop communication skills and internalize their community’s strengths, rather than focusing on deficits. These tools empower them to lead efforts for change.”

The HHL curriculum focuses on storytelling. Students researched family member stories and learned how to organize and relay a compelling narrative. They presented stories multiple times in group formats to gather feedback from peers and mentors before delivering final stories to the full group of students, mentors and family members on the program’s last day. The week also included team-building activities and informational sessions on NHI’s history and programs.

Evelyn Alanis said the program taught her “to not be scared of public speaking” and “that I’ll be supported even if I make mistakes.” She looks forward to joining NHI’s Great Debate program for rising sophomores and learning how to “put myself out there and become a leader.”

William Lima said he learned “when I help others it will always come back to me” and not to be afraid to express himself.

Shandtley Sapilian shared that HHL encouraged her “to be a leader and to have freedom of expression and speech.”

Nieto said the HHL program not only teaches storytelling skills and appreciation for one’s community, but also prepares students for NHI’s immersive high school curriculum that cultivates skillsets students can use to successfully engage in community organizations and the legislative process, as well as lead in their chosen fields.

“Each program emphasizes asset-based thinking and trains youth to view themselves as capable of affecting change through their own resources and strengths,” she said.

NHI’s week came full circle with a lunch to honor 24 graduating seniors who completed one or more of NHI’s high school leadership programs, which begin with the Great Debate for rising sophomores. This program emphasizes communications skills as tools for self-advancement and community change.

The Lorenzo de Zavala (LDZ) Youth Legislative Session for rising juniors exposes students to governance, organizational development and policy design. Finally, rising seniors participate in the Collegiate World Series, which has a dual focus on preparing students for college admissions as well as community leadership.

The luncheon celebrated graduate accomplishments within NHI and their post-high school plans, as well as recognized the contributions of outgoing project administrator, Stella Helvie.

Honored graduating seniors are:

Cristo Rey St. Viator

Daylin Bonilla, Gonzaga University, business administration and sports management

Cristo Rey St. Viator College Prep

Elizabeth Macaraig, Chapman University, business marketing

Desert Pines High School

Amanda Roldan, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, nursing

Jiovani Aguirre, University of Nevada, Reno, mechanical engineering

Mia Becerra, University of Nevada, Reno; agricultural science and vet medicine

Mia Cruz, Nevada State University, biology

Equipo Academy

Angel Diaz, U.S. Marine Corps

Eddie Calderon, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, mechanical engineering

Lizeth Diaz Garcia, College of Southern Nevada, health science

Noemy Mendoza, Boston College, accounting

Palo Verde High School

Lily Noelle Anderson, University of Nevada, Reno, Honors College, economics and international affairs

Rancho High School

Amanda Jimenez, Barnard College at Columbia University, pre-health

Anthony Leon, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, College of Public Health, nursing

Julieta Arellano, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, criminal justice

West Career and Technical Academy

Hayley Menjivar, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, psychology

Judith Garcia Leon, University of San Diego, biochemistry and Spanish

Samantha Cerna, Brown University, public health

Sands helped bring NHI to Las Vegas in 2022 and has supported the leadership development program annually since then, with the latest Sands Cares funding announced earlier this year. Through Sands’ underwriting, NHI has provided transformative learning experiences to 227 Las Vegas students since 2022.

Sands’ support for NHI is part of the Sands Cares focus on education and building the workforce of the future. To learn more about the company’s education initiatives, read its latest ESG report: https://www.sands.com/resources/reports/.