Los Alamos High School sophomore Tevita Funaki. Courtesy/LAPS

LAPS News:

Tevita Funaki, a sophomore at Los Alamos High School, has been selected into the 2024 Dionisio “Dennis” Chavez New Mexico Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session (LDZ).

Funaki is one of 150 students from New Mexico named as a United States Senator Dennis Chavez Scholar, entitling him to participate in the nationally and internationally recognized leadership initiative of the National Hispanic Institute being held at the University of New Mexico in June.

“I found out about the program via the National Honor Society and applied because government and law is something that has always piqued my interest,” he said. “I’m very hopeful about it as it brings together lots of New Mexico teens.”

The LDZ is an eight-day intensive leadership experience which provides young people with an opportunity to learn how to create, manage, and navigate large organizations. Students practice a broad array of competencies including public speaking, policy writing, and constituency development.

Since 1982, students from more than 20 states and four Latin American nations have convened to play this leadership game of vision, influence and power management.

“I hope to gain newfound knowledge regarding government and legislation as well as relationships formed with fellow New Mexico teens,” he added.

For more information about this program, go to https://www.nationalhispanicinstitute.org/page-18288