This is the introductory program to the National Hispanic Institute in which 9th grade students compete in a debate style program against teams different regions of Texas, comprised of freshman students. This is the only program in which students train for and attend/compete as the Dallas Region. Our students undergo a 12 week long training period where we hold weekly training sessions and prepare them to compete in their selected debate category (Extemporaneous Speaking, Oratory, Cross Examination, & Mock Trial). The Great Debate is aimed to expand intellectual thought by discussing and debating important issues that effect the Latino community, all while honing and perfecting communication, presentation, and critical thinking skills.

In the second program offered by the National Hispanic Institute, students travel to their choice of one of six host institutions to participate in a week long youth legislative session. There is not a formal training period, with the Dallas Region, like the Great Debate. At this program students learn the protocols and procedures of forming a government, writing proposals to be passed into law, and ultimately form their own government. The LDZ is aimed for students to expand their mindset intellectually through the art of persuasion and envisioning what future leadership and policies for the Latino community look like.

In the final program for high school students, 11th grade students are drafted by college admission officers to represent their university. These students undergo a competitive series of activities all pertaining to the college application process. Each student gains points for their resume, college essay, interview, etc. Points are tallied and one university, made up of CWS participants, is deemed the Champion of the Collegiate World Series. In part two of the CWS, students are immersed in IBL (immersive based learning) through a question based approach to analyze and reflect on their goals and decisions they will soon be making that will shape their futures. And furthermore how those decisions will set them up to invest in the communities that brought them to where they are now.