Elijah Rey Reyes
Las Cruces Bulletin
The vote was so close during the Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session that it came down to a coin flip.
“It was a whole thing getting up to that process. We were debating with people, running against people, the vote was close.” said Angel Hernandez, a student at Alta Vista Early College High School who earned one of the top two honors at the Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session.
The tie-breaking moment occurred during the program’s competitive election process, where students campaigned and debated for leadership positions.
Weeks later, Hernandez and fellow Alta Vista student Jose “Tony” Martinez were recognized by the Gadsden Board of Education at Loma Linda Elementary on Feb. 26 as applause filled the room.
The pair was recognized during the district’s board meeting for earning the top two distinctions at the leadership program hosted by the National Hispanic Institute. Hernandez was awarded the 2025 Dennis Chavez LDZ Governor Lieutenant Governor and Martinez was awarded the 2025 Dennis Chavez LDZ Governor.
“When we got called, I definitely started crying out of sheer excitement,” Hernandez said. “We went up on the podium. We thanked everyone and hugged everyone. It was so amazing.”
Martinez described the celebration just as vividly.
“If you see the photos right after they call our names, Angel and I are ecstatic,” Martinez said. “We were hugging each other. We were jumping. We were super happy.”
The Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session, often referred to as LDZ, is a mock government program in which approximately 150 students assume official leadership roles of a simulated judicial branch.
“So, the LDZ is held by the NHI, which is the National Hispanic Institute,” Hernandez said. “It is basically a big legislative session. There’s lawyers, there’s judges, governors, and the speaker of the house.”
Martinez described the competitive atmosphere in his own way.
“It’s a mock government,” Martinez said. “The entire time we’re trying to run for political positions.”
Both students said that the long and enduring week tested them to the max.
“The toughest moment was definitely the big presidential speech,” Martinez said. “During that time, I was super nervous. I was very stressed. I couldn’t eat. There was a moment where I was about to throw up and I just couldn’t.”
For Hernandez, the challenge came from stepping outside his comfort zone.
“The toughest moment for me was when I finally realized I had to do it myself,” Hernandez said. “I wasn’t an extroverted person, but I knew that to win the top position I needed to talk to a lot of people.”
By the end of the session, both students said the experience strengthened their leadership skills and confidence.
“I definitely put myself forward a lot more when it comes to leadership roles,” Martinez said. “I’m definitely more confident in speaking. It got easier speaking in front of a large crowd of people.”
Hernandez said the experience also expanded his personal outlook on higher education.
“The LDZ influenced my career decision by really making me want to go to college more,” he said. “It really broadened my experience.”
The students’ achievement capped off a milestone week for Gadsden Independent School District, which was named 2025 National Hispanic Institute School District of the Year. The recognition reflects the district’s sustained participation and student success in NHI leadership programs.
National Hispanic Institute co-founder and executive vice president Gloria De Leon, who attended the Feb. 26 board meeting, said the district’s recognition reflects a sustained emphasis of leadership within Gadsden schools.
“There is a culture of success,” De Leon said. “There’s an expectation inside from teachers, to counselors, to principles.”
De Leon noted that dozens of Gadsden students have participated in NHI programs in recent years and emphasized the organization’s strong college outcomes.
“By merely qualifying for our programs, the college readiness has already been filled,” she said.
For Martinez, the experience reinforced his interest in public service.
“I definitely want to look more into the political side of college,” he said. “My dad told me I would make a good politician because he says I have a good heart.”
Hernandez, who plans to pursue electrical engineering, encourages younger students to follow the blueprint he did.
“I would tell them to definitely apply, but they should be ready for the rigorous challenge,” he said. “It is so worth it.”
