Seton Hall Welcomes National Hispanic Institute Leadership Program

Seton Hall University is welcoming 135 high-achieving high school students from across the United States and Latin America this summer for an immersive leadership experience centered on public policy, civic engagement and ethical leadership.

From July 19-26, the University will host the National Hispanic Institute's (NHI) American Lorenzo de Zavala (LDZ) Youth Legislative Session, the organization's flagship leadership program that has helped develop future leaders for more than four decades. Students from the United States, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Puerto Rico will participate in the eight-day residential experience, exploring policymaking, public service and community leadership while living on Seton Hall's South Orange campus.

"Seton Hall is honored to welcome NHI and these outstanding young leaders to our campus," said Erik Lillquist, J.D., interim provost and executive vice president. "Programs like the LDZ reflect our University's mission to prepare students to serve as engaged, ethical leaders in their communities. We look forward to a lasting partnership with NHI that opens doors for young people across the U.S. and the Americas to see themselves as future policymakers and changemakers."

The partnership was championed in part by George Nicolas Rodriguez ’20 / M.A. ‘22, an NHI alumnus and two-time Seton Hall graduate, whose experiences with both organizations helped bring the collaboration to life.

"When it comes to my time at Seton Hall, my fondest memories are of the relationships I built there," said Rodriguez. "Seton Hall's community nurtured my intellectual curiosity and pushed me to pursue my passion for literature."
Rodriguez said he found strong similarities between the educational philosophies of Seton Hall and NHI, particularly their shared commitment to recognizing every student's talents and potential.

"The work that my professors put into getting to know me, my interests, and to invest in my imagination blew me away," he said. "That kind of individualized learning was something I didn't expect to see outside NHI, which is why I got both my undergraduate and graduate degrees there."

The LDZ program challenges rising high school juniors to build political platforms, form parties and serve in legislative, executive and judicial leadership roles through an immersive simulation designed to strengthen communication, collaboration and critical thinking. Participants also explore community equity-building by identifying and building upon the strengths of their own communities to create meaningful change.

The program is the second experience in NHI's three-part leadership education series. Building on earlier communication and public speaking training, the LDZ prepares students to think strategically about leadership and civic responsibility while working alongside peers from diverse backgrounds across the Americas.

For many participants, the program also represents their first opportunity to experience life on a college campus. NHI's immersive learning model emphasizes hands-on experiences that encourage students to grow through collaboration, reflection and real-world leadership challenges.

Founded in 1979 by Ernesto Nieto, the National Hispanic Institute has served more than 100,000 students across the United States and the Americas. Through leadership education, civic engagement and college readiness programming, NHI prepares high-achieving students to become leaders in business, education, government and the nonprofit sector.

Categories: Community Engagement