A Letter to Our Parents & Families
From the NHI at Austin Leadership Team
Thank you for your interest in the National Hispanic Institute at Austin (NHI@ATX). We are a volunteer-driven affiliate of the National Hispanic Institute — an organization that has been transforming the lives of young leaders across the United States and Latin America since 1979.
We created NHI@ATX because we believe that Austin's youth deserve access to the same life-changing leadership experiences that have shaped over 100,000 NHI alumni nationwide. Our flagship program, The Great Debate, is specifically designed for high-achieving 9th-grade students who want to develop their communication skills, build confidence, and discover their potential as community leaders.
"NHI has helped our kids learn valuable skills about public speaking and becoming more outgoing. We have seen how they grow to become future leaders." — NHI Parent
What will your student gain from NHI?
- Confidence & Communication Skills — Through organized debates, cross-examination, and extemporaneous speaking, students find their voice
- Critical Thinking — Students engage with real-world issues affecting the Latino community and develop solutions
- A Lifelong Network — NHI membership connects your student to a national community of driven peers, mentors, and college-bound leaders
- College Readiness — 98% of NHI high school seniors attend college, with 90% at four-year institutions
- A Leadership Pipeline — The Great Debate is the first step toward LDZ (10th–11th grade) and the Collegiate World Series (12th grade)
- Cultural Pride — Students explore and celebrate their heritage while building skills for the future
What does participation involve?
Your student will participate in local training sessions led by NHI alumni and volunteers in the Austin area. This preparation culminates in a multi-day summer Great Debate experience hosted on a college campus alongside students from across Texas and beyond. Students are drafted onto teams, compete in debate and speaking events, and build relationships that last a lifetime.
Upon official acceptance, a $150 deposit secures your student's spot. Total tuition is $720 (after deposit), and NHI works with each family individually to create a manageable payment schedule. Financial barriers should never prevent a motivated student from participating — please reach out to us about scholarship and sponsorship opportunities.
All students, regardless of race, gender, political affiliation, economic circumstances, or religious belief, are welcome to apply for participation in NHI. What we look for is ambition, curiosity, and the desire to grow.
We invite you to join our NHI@ATX familia. Your support — whether through enrolling your student, volunteering your time, or donating to our scholarship fund — makes this work possible.
Somos NHI. We are NHI.
Ready to give your student this opportunity?
Fill Out the Interest FormA Letter to Our Parents & Families
From the NHI at Austin Leadership Team
Thank you for your interest in the National Hispanic Institute at Austin (NHI@ATX). We are a volunteer-driven affiliate of the National Hispanic Institute — an organization that has been transforming the lives of young leaders across the United States and Latin America since 1979.
We created NHI@ATX because we believe that Austin's youth deserve access to the same life-changing leadership experiences that have shaped over 100,000 NHI alumni nationwide. Our flagship program, The Great Debate, is specifically designed for high-achieving 9th-grade students who want to develop their communication skills, build confidence, and discover their potential as community leaders.
"NHI has helped our kids learn valuable skills about public speaking and becoming more outgoing. We have seen how they grow to become future leaders." — NHI Parent
What will your student gain from NHI?
- Confidence & Communication Skills — Through organized debates, cross-examination, and extemporaneous speaking, students find their voice
- Critical Thinking — Students engage with real-world issues affecting the Latino community and develop solutions
- A Lifelong Network — NHI membership connects your student to a national community of driven peers, mentors, and college-bound leaders
- College Readiness — 98% of NHI high school seniors attend college, with 90% at four-year institutions
- A Leadership Pipeline — The Great Debate is the first step toward LDZ (10th–11th grade) and the Collegiate World Series (12th grade)
- Cultural Pride — Students explore and celebrate their heritage while building skills for the future
What does participation involve?
Your student will participate in local training sessions led by NHI alumni and volunteers in the Austin area. This preparation culminates in a multi-day summer Great Debate experience hosted on a college campus alongside students from across Texas and beyond. Students are drafted onto teams, compete in debate and speaking events, and build relationships that last a lifetime.
Upon official acceptance, a $150 deposit secures your student's spot. Total tuition is $720 (after deposit), and NHI works with each family individually to create a manageable payment schedule. Financial barriers should never prevent a motivated student from participating — please reach out to us about scholarship and sponsorship opportunities.
All students, regardless of race, gender, political affiliation, economic circumstances, or religious belief, are welcome to apply for participation in NHI. What we look for is ambition, curiosity, and the desire to grow.
We invite you to join our NHI@ATX familia. Your support — whether through enrolling your student, volunteering your time, or donating to our scholarship fund — makes this work possible.
Somos NHI. We are NHI.
Ready to give your student this opportunity?
Fill Out the Interest Form