2005 Essay Contest Winners

On September 13, 2005, Allstate Insurance Company and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) recognized ten Hispanic youth leaders as winners of the Líderes de Hoy national essay contest, awarding them each a $5,000 academic scholarship. Among others, California Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Marco Davis, Director of Leadership for the Center of Emerging Latino Leadership of NCLR; and Allstate Agent Giovanni Ramirez recognized the winners for their exceptional achievements and commitment to their community.

“With the Líderes de Hoy national essay contest, we are responding to a critical need for more Latino leaders by engaging young Latinos in leadership, community, and civic action,” said Marco Davis. The goal of the Center, he shared, is “to build a national Líderes network that supports and strengthens programs and organizations that develop Hispanic youth, like the Líderes de Hoy national essay contest winners, and empowers more Latino youth to become involved in their communities.”

Applicants of the national essay contest were asked to answer the question: “As a young leader, how have you been a catalyst for positive change and contributed to inspiring your community?” The essays were judged by a panel of high-profile leaders in the Hispanic community on the basis of commitment to community, exemplary leadership, and the promise to continue involvement in community and civic affairs. The ten winners were selected from more than 290 entrants from throughout the United States.
The winners of the 2005 Líderes de Hoy national essay contest are Nelson Araujo, Las Vegas, Nevada; Erik Casynn, Longmont, Colorado; Christian Contreras, Elmsford, New York; Janet Del Real, Modesto, California; Arthur Hernandez, Paradise, Texas; Esteban Hufstedler, Santa Ana, California; Shannon Marrero, Gainesville, Florida; Steven Parra, Los Angeles, California; Derek Rodrígues, Albany, Oregon; and Magdalena Rodríguez, Watsonville, California.


NCLR will be featuring the ten winners here.



Erik Casynn

Erik Casynn is a senior at Ute Creek Secondary Academy in Longmont, Colorado. During his high school career, he volunteered at his local hospital where his dedication earned him the “LUV Volunteer with Most Hours” award. At the Colorado Christian Home, he served on the Centennial Planning Committee and helped organize the Centennial Homecoming for former residents of the orphanage.

Erik’s greatest achievement has been working on the City of Longmont Youth Council - which serves as the official advisory board to the Longmont City Council - as Chairman for the Alcohol Awareness Subcommittee and later as Vice President of the Advisory Board. The council realized the need to address underage drinking and joined the local police departments and the Drinking Prevention Coalition in the fight against it. Erik helped hire a professional facilitator with whom in collaboration the Council created the “Power of Friendship” presentation for the local youth. This presentation emphasizes the importance of friends in a teenager’s life: “Friends help friends make the right decisions regarding drinking and other life choices.”

Most remarkably, Erik worked on creating an alcohol–poisoning card that teens can carry in their wallets with information about heart and breathing rates during alcohol consumption. Knowing the data concerning Hispanic alcohol use, Erik suggested that the council reach out to the Hispanic community and had the cards translated into Spanish. They were distributed from a booth at a Cinco de Mayo festival: “This was a huge success, and we were able to reach out to a community that would have been left out without our involvement.”

Presently, Erik is the cochair of the Longmont Youth Council. The Council recently finished working in the local schools for Yellow Ribbon Week. Erik and the Youth Council went to the city council and had the week of September 18th proclaimed by the mayor as Suicide Prevention Week or Yellow Ribbon Week. The council made yellow ribbons and handed out cards with the national hotline number on them in the local schools. Erik is now working on a community summit for youth to discuss the results from a Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) conducted by the school district last year. The YRBS explores all the risks that youth are taking in the Longmont community, such as drug abuse, drinking, unprotected sex, unhealthy eating, and lack of exercise. His next project is a multicultural event where every culture of Longmont will be celebrated.

Erik hopes to attend Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, or Colorado University in Denver. He is presently considering a major in psychology and minor in business, and he plans to study medicine because of his love of helping people.



Janet Del Real

Janet Del Real lives in Modesto, California and is the youngest of five siblings. She attends Peter Johansen High School and is in the 12th grade. Her passion for community service comes from her conviction to “make a difference, having my hands touch and impact the world.” She is a devoted Catholic and strives to make a change not only in her community but also in the world.

During the summer of 2005, Janet went on a missionary trip to Honduras to help build an orphanage. As Associate Student Body President in her high school, Janet helped build two Relay-for-Life teams for the American Cancer Society. She organized these teams when she realized that although the race was to be held at her school, none of the students were participating. With her leadership, her school raised $4,000 for cancer prevention and awareness programs. She is an active environmentalist and teaches other students about the importance of conserving energy, recycling, protecting our resources, and cleaning up the environment. She is the president of the countywide Hispanic Youth Leadership Council where she helps her peers experience leadership experiences.

Janet is presently building a community service club at her high school known as the S.O.U.L. Team (Serving Others with Unconditional Love). They plan to go to the local hospitals and visit with the children. She is cocaptain of Stanislaus Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and is helping to fundraise by organizing a 5k walk on the steps of the state capitol. Janet is enrolled in the Upward Bound program, which helps first generation college-bound students.

Janet plans on attending college in California or in Texas and intends to pursue a career in medicine: “Working with needy, impoverished children has always been my greatest passion, and I hope to be a missionary doctor, working for the underserved!”


Christian Contreras

“I have a dream: to maintain our heritage through the propagation of Latin Jazz with rhythms that evoke our ways of enjoying life and our culture,” writes 15-year-old Christian Contreras in his Líderes de Hoy essay. Christian demonstrates his extraordinary musical talent and passion as a tenth grader at Briarcliff High School in his community in Elmsford, New York.

Christian was born in Panama, but he and his family moved to Europe when he was two. After living in Switzerland and Spain, his family moved to the United Sates when Christian was seven. While he was struggling to adapt and learn English, Christian turned to music to ease his anxieties. Every day during recess, Christian went to the music room to listen to the school band rehearse. One day, someone asked him if he wanted to join the band. At the age of seven, under the guidance of Mr. Milton Williams, Christian began to participate in the New York State Music Association Festival where he has performed every year.

For Christian, music is a way to lead and reach out to his community. “Being a leader and catalyst for change is not an easy task – especially as an Hispanic descendent – because we try to integrate until we forget sometimes who we are, or who we have become.”

His greatest pleasure comes from working with other musicians and helping them excel. In 2003, Christian was introduced to Ianthia Calhoun and her young musicians at Woodlands High School. Ms. Calhoun asked Christian to work with these students to enhance their music skills. Christian spent more than ninety hours at Woodlands High School playing with the band and helping convince administrators to keep the arts program at the school. Christian and the Woodlands High School band have played at many festivals, senior home facilities, and community centers.

At Briarcliff High School, Christian is a leading participant in school concerts and the jazz band. Fellow students come to his house for jam sessions and to improve their solo abilities. He plays with the Westchester Music Conservatory of Latin Jazz and Honors Orchestra. He has played first chair clarinet twice, first chair tenor sax once at the New York State Music Association Festival, and first chair in the All County Orchestra.

Most recently, Christian was selected as an official member of the New York Youth Symphony "Jazz Band Classic" for 2005 - 2006. He will be auditioning next summer to enter a pre-college program at Julliard for Jazz on Tenor Sax and classical clarinet.
He is currently trying to contact Gloria Estefan, Shakira, Paquito D'Rivera, and Ruben Blades to create a Foundation for the Hispanic Music Education to play throughout the United States and Latin America.

Christian has met Patrick Forero, a leader in Latin Jazz, who introduced him to the music of other Latin Jazz/pop musicians. When Christian performs, he is often approached by parents who ask him where their children can learn to play Latin music. “They are mostly Hispanic descendants, and my heart is touched because even though we are from different paths in a different country, something deep inside us still keeps us united.”


Arthur "Danny" Daniel Hernandez

When Arthur "Danny" Daniel Hernandez was four years old, his parents were killed in a car accident. Danny and his siblings would have been wards of the state of Texas if his Aunt Virginia, then 21 years old, had not adopted Danny and his bother and sister. This was one of the many obstacles Danny has had to overcome.

Danny lives in Paradise, Texas, a small town of 453 with very little diversity. His school, Paradise High School, had 303 students, 11 of which were Latino. Danny described himself as “one of those eleven … a descendant of elites who have been stripped of their culture … and way of life.” Despite the discrimination Danny faced, he decided that it was not going to stop him from living his dream. During his freshman year, he ran for student government president. Danny was the student body president for two years, the debate club president for two years, the honor society president for one year, and class president for four years. He was ranked third in his graduating class. His proudest achievement was founding a community service organization called S.W.A.T., or Students With A Task. Through this organization, Danny encouraged his small town to hold blood drives and canned food drives, create an after school tutoring program, raise money for tsunami victims, hold a toy drive, and many more activities that benefit the community. Danny’s experience taught him that anyone can make a change. “I only pray that I have inspired at least one person to be a catalyst for more change, for more diversity, and more success.”

Danny is now a freshman at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He is majoring in Sociology, but is considering changing to a double major in Spanish and Education. After undergraduate school, he plans to attend law school to become an immigration attorney. He is developing a Hispanic scholarship program for Wise County, Texas. At Texas A&M, he is associated with two Latino organizations. The first one is the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) where Danny volunteers as a mentor helping high school and middle school students. He is helping them develop an interest in attending college and understanding the college application process. The second organization is Community Awareness of the Mexican American Culture (CAMAC). He is part of the Cultural Sub Committee, and is working on hosting a quinceañera for Hispanic Heritage Month for the local community.

Danny’s commitment has driven him to great accomplishments, and he is an inspiration to others. “Dedication has been key to defining the success that has come to me throughout my life, whether it be dedication to exceeding obstacles or dedication to extinguishing stereotypes.”


Esteban Hufstedler

Esteban Hufstedler is also known as Esteban Antonio Martin Guadalupe Luna Lemus Hufstedler. He values his long list of names since six of them honor family members. His seventh name is for the Patron Saint of Mexico because Esteban was born on December 12, the day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Consequently, Esteban’s Mexican heritage is very important to him. He is very close to his family and from an early age helped his grandparents in their tienda. He grew up volunteering in his neighborhood, collecting food, translating (Spanish/English), and helping the elderly.

Esteban has had a deep love of books since he learned to read at the very early age of three. His family taught him that education was the key to success. Esteban attended El Modena High School in Santa Ana, California where he excelled and was very active in leadership and service activities. He was chosen to participate in a national Native American and Hispanic youth leadership conference and won the Science Olympiad sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control.

Esteban is proud of his community service work with the GREAT School Readiness Center Program. He began working with the “First Five Readiness Program” helping provide preschool programs for Spanish-speaking communities. Esteban conceived of the perpetual book drive, organizing volunteers from his high school and local college. To date, they have collected 2,500 books for the GREAT School Readiness Center, serving 200 families. Esteban has learned that through his effort, children in the Center “will be more likely to succeed, having had an early introduction to the joys of learning.”

Esteban believes that his bilingual and Latino background has given him the advantage of understanding and caring for the children and parents he serves: “I hope I am a role model for the children and parents at the Center – one [who helps] them realize the wonderful opportunities open to them.”

Now, as a freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Esteban is considering majoring in biochemistry. He plans on pursuing a doctorate and becoming a scientist. He recently joined the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and continues to collect books for the Preschool Readiness Program. Esteban realizes how fortunate he is to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees, and that he has a responsibility to be a community leader. The words of César Chávez inspire him, “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and our own.”


Magdalena Rodriguez

Even as a little girl, Magdalena “Magge” Rodriguez was inspired by César Chávez. Magge emphasizes the conviction of youth today: “Young people have a responsibility to carry on the work of our predecessors and to try to create a better tomorrow, but I know that young people must be the leaders of today in our communities.”

As a sixth grader, Magge joined a grassroots organization called the Watsonville Brown Berets, which focuses on improving conditions in local schools, ending gang and domestic violence, encouraging more students to pursue higher education, creating good paying jobs, and encouraging more citizens to engage in civic participation.

In seventh grade, 12-year-old Magge went to Sacramento, California to protest against the California High School Exit Exam. Magge was chosen to speak at a press conference to talk about the impact of the exams on rural students. The State Board of Education postponed implementing the exams for two years following the protest by Magge and other students. That same year, Magge supported a landmark lawsuit against the state of California. Williams v. the State of California fought for equal educational opportunities for all students, especially in the state’s poorest schools. Magge filed a legal declaration on behalf of her school, Watsonville High, which was one of 46 schools in the lawsuit. Magge’s statement described how she had to wear gloves in class to keep warm, how they had to share old textbooks, and how she had to ask for paper towels from her principal to wash her hands in the restrooms. In 2004, after four years, the State of California ruled in favor of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the 100 students named as plaintiffs, Magge, and the hundreds of others who submitted statements and depositions to the court. Magge is proud of her work because she is helping the next generation of Latino students, including her four-year-old brother.

Maggie is now a junior at Watsonville High School in Watsonville, California. Recently, Magge realized that in her predominately Hispanic community no schools were named after a Latino leader. Magge helped gather more than 4, 000 signatures and gain the support of local leaders and businesses. Magge’s work did not result in renaming the schools in 2002. However, the Hispanic community realized the need to elect school board candidates who supported their efforts. The following year, with the help of newly elected members, the school board approved the renaming of two schools, one after César Chávez. The great victory taught Magge to never give up or “si, se puede.”

After Magge graduates, she would like to attend Harvard University and continue on to study law.


Steven Parra

Steven Parra grew up in Los Angeles in an area troubled by gangs and violence. He attended Huntington Park High school, a year-round school that was surrounded by litter and graffiti. Students from his neighborhood were not generally concerned with community service, but Steven became one of the most active student leaders in his school.

During his freshman year, Steven learned about the KEY Club, an organization that helps students develop leadership skills as they serve their home, school, and community. At the time, the KEY Club was not a popular school activity. With only a few students participating, Steven realized he needed to “take the extra step and guide the club in the right direction.” First Steven became vice president and then president. Under his direction, the KEY Club became a larger and more popular club. One of its first activities was to clean up the area around the high school. During his two years as president, Steven organized a variety of events that attracted new members and kept existing members engaged. The KEY Club went from helping its local community to helping hundreds of other communities by participating in events such as the AIDS Walk Los Angeles, Relay for Life with the American Cancer Society and UNICEF.

Steven had other commitments though. He had a heavy academic schedule; he was on the cross country team and working part time to help his family. Steven felt that he had to give something up. He reluctantly decided to quit his job. Steven believed it was his responsibility to improve the KEY Club and establish programs that would continue after he graduated. He turned one-time events into annual, monthly, and weekly events. Steven expanded the work of the Club so that it was sought out by community leaders such as the Huntington Park Chamber of Commerce and the YMCA. During Steven’s presidency, the Huntington Park High School KEY Club received numerous honors and awards, such as helping at the Annual Christmas Parade and the YMCA Toy Drive.

He is currently majoring in Mechanical Engineering at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo. Steven plans to join Circle K, the college version of the KEY Club. He is also a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). In the future, Steven plans to become president of one of these clubs to further his leadership skills. Steven’s experience with the KEY Club taught him the skills to be a leader during high school and for the rest of his life: “I was able to become a person who inspires and motivates other students to help their community in any possible way.”



Nelson Araujo

In the eighth grade, during morning announcements, Nelson Aruajo recited the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish to his entire school, Fremont Middle School. For many of his Hispanic schoolmates, it was the first time they understood the meaning of the Pledge. Despite Nelson’s good intentions, he was attacked for his efforts. Nelson fought for the right to continue reciting the Pledge in Spanish. The issue became so controversial that the school was said to have received death threats. The local and national media closely covered the debate. Despite opposition, the Spanish Pledge of Allegiance continued for the rest of the year, “proving that even small changes can make a difference in our community.”

After a white supremacist group posted a “Stop Immigration” billboard in Las Vegas, Nelson marched with other Latinos in protest: “As I headed this march with the United States flag in my hands, I knew I was serving my people and fighting for La Causa.”

Nelson continued with his activist work in the Latino Youth Leadership Alumni, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to empower youth through community service. The alumni helped Nelson become aware of the issues affecting Latinos today.

At Rancho High School, Nelson became a member of the Hispanic Student Union, a student council vice president, and eventually school president. But this was not enough for Nelson. He decided to run for vice president of the Nevada Association of Student Councils, overseeing 23 high schools in Nevada: “I was able to stand tall as a Latino at a predominately Caucasian conference.” Nelson won the election by 50%. He now serves as a Nevada State Board officer, providing him with the “ability to empower and educate thousands of high school students.”

Nelson continues to fight injustice against Latinos in his community and for high school students in Nevada. He is applying to several universities and hopes to major in criminal justice with a minor in political science. He is currently working with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Street Teens, a center for homeless or at risk youth.


Shannon Marrero

Shannon Marrero is a senior at Eastside High in Gainesville, Florida, and she attributes her passion for community service to two significant individuals, U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona and Iraqi peace activist, Zahara’a Taher.

Shannon was the U.S. representative for the HOBY World Leadership Congress where she was mentored by U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona. She learned that his grandparents, like hers, were from poor Puerto Rican neighborhoods and only had eighth-grade educations. Shannon was impressed with the way Dr. Carmona changed his life and worked to influence world changes as U.S. Surgeon General. At the World Leadership Conference, Shannon was encouraged to work with an adult mentor and was paired with an Iraqi woman named Zahara’a Taher. After spending a week together, Zahara’a returned to Iraq where she was kidnapped and brutally murdered. A sign was left around her neck warning others not to associate with the United States. Shannon marked this loss by stating: “Through my grief I remembered her bravery and her desire for youth to make this a better world.”

Shannon used her experience and leadership skills to form and implement three ongoing projects. First, Shannon started an online website, Teens for a United World Citizenship, where youth from all over the world are asked to sign a pledge to work toward peace and understanding. Hundreds of teens have joined the website pledge.

Shannon’s second project involved extending the International Baccalaureate (IB) program to Hispanic and African American students at her high school. Shannon worked with her school staff and administration and University of Florida facilitators to create the “Mix It Integration” program. The “Mix It Integration” program is designed to foster communication among people of other races: “People kids would not normally talk to.” Her third contribution has been to mentor elementary school students through the Florida Teen Trendsetter Mentors program.

Recently, Shannon was accepted to Harvard University. She is also a semi-finalist in the Coca-Cola scholarship competition. Shannon will find out in February if she is a finalist. She has been chosen to receive the Elder and Leemaur Publishers Award and Scholarship and will have her writing published in a collection of essays, “ Authors of Tomorrow". Finally, Shannon received "Volunteer of the Year" from the Alachua County School System through her work done in founding and directing the Teen Trendsetter's Reading Mentors Program. The Program enlists high school students to mentor and tutor elementary students in an impoverished area where state test scores were low. The Teen Trendsetter's Reading Mentors Program conducted research and gave tests to determine reading capabilities. The reading scores of the children in the mentoring program have increased significantly. Consequently, the Teen Trendsetter's Reading Mentor Program will receive state funds to continue and expand the program.

As president of her graduating class, Shannon plans to speak during her commencement speech about overcoming obstacles. The commencement speech will be dedicated to Zahara’a Taher, who gave her life to help others achieve their dreams.


Derek Rodriguez

Derek Rodriguez was born in California. He moved to Oregon at the age of five. He is a senior at West Albany High School, in Albany Oregon, and although Albany has a very small Hispanic population (4.4%), Derek has not let “that become a barrier for involvement.”

Derek volunteers in various programs, but his most fulfilling work is for the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) Team. SAR is a team of volunteer youth and sheriff officers who are highly trained to respond to emergencies. Derek is a staff sergeant, the highest-ranking position. He is responsible for preparing a platoon of 25 youth before missions such as missing-person searches, rescue missions, body recovery, or evidence searches. In 2005, he was awarded the Sheriff’s Office Volunteer of the Year Award for Search and Rescue.

Derek has also volunteered with the Linn County Alcohol and Drug Prevention Program for the past three years, distributing substance abuse information at health fairs and community events. He participated in a minors decoy operation to educate store owners and employees about selling tobacco to minors. In May 2005, he began collecting data and developing prevention materials for use in local schools. He also volunteers in the children’s program with his church. Derek was additionally selected as one of 24 youth to participate in the Albany Youth Leadership program sponsored by the Albany Chamber of Commerce.

Derek is very active in his school. He started a backpacking club because he enjoys the outdoors. His involvement gained the approval of the school administration, recruiting two teachers to act as adult advisors. He is also a mentor for freshman students and a peer mediator.

Many of Derek’s community service activities involve mentoring. Derek believes mentoring is important: “Because people need someone to look up to who can model a positive lifestyle. Positive leaders help create a healthy community, and that is what I am striving to achieve.” After graduating from high school Derek is interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.



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