La Feria News

La Feria Sophomore Goes to Washington

Bill Keltner

Bill Keltner

Zabdiel Rothschild chosen for exciting trip

When Zabdiel Rothschild and his mother opened the official looking letter post-marked from Washington, D.C., they were thrilled to learn that Zabdiel had been chosen to be one of the 70 high school students nation-wide selected for the weeklong training program in the nation’s capital.

There were 300 applications submitted nationwide for the honor. The letter stated simply: Congratulations! “You have been selected along with seventy of your peers to take part in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (CHCI) NextGen Program!” The letter explained that the review committee selected him because of “his commitment to leadership, interest in civic engagement, and the desire to give back to his community. The mission of the CHCI is the developing of the next generation of Latino Leaders. Welcome! to the CHCI “Familia,” the letter ended.

Zabdiel and his mother excited about his selection.

Zabdiel and his mother excited about his selection.

That exciting, once-in-a-lifetime hands-on experience in Washington D.C. occurs the week of July 26-31, 2015. Zabdiel together with the selected group of young Latino Leaders will be exploring the Nation’s Capitol by walking the halls of congress, visiting historic monuments, and meeting key Latino leaders who are making a difference in their community; among them: Representatives Juan Vargas and Filemon Vela.

Zabdiel Rothschild chosen for trip to Washington, D.C.

Zabdiel Rothschild chosen for trip to Washington, D.C.

Rothschild is a LION and proud of it. The young leader will begin his Sophomore year at La Feria High School in September with his class. He credits his high school counselor, Mark Parvin, with giving him the information and motivation to apply for the honor. Parvin is head of the GEAR-UP Program at the high school.

The application contained several questions relating to school leadership. The applicants were asked about how being a Latino influenced your life in the U.S.A and what is your opinion of school policies. One question was: What would you change? He answered: “the bottom line is about money. If I could, I would strive to obtain more government funds for education and more participation from parents.”

When asked about next year and his future, he said, “This is a huge step for me. With what I learn, I’ll be able to develop more leadership qualifies for me and my fellow students. I look forward to this honor as a giant step forward in my education. And if it helps another student in his plans to succeed, then it is a job well-done.”

We’ll be hearing more about this young leader born in Monterrey, Mexico, who has already s made a name for himself in this country. As we say in Texas: “More Power to You.”

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