# NHI Great Debate

National Hispanic Institute's residential summer leadership and debate program for 9th graders, held on university campuses in California, Texas, and the Midwest as the entry point to NHI's multi-year pipeline.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | National Hispanic Institute |
| Category | leadership |
| Cost | $870 |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grade 9 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | Multiple, Multiple States |
| Apply | https://www.nationalhispanicinstitute.org/great-debate |

## About this program

# NHI Great Debate

Great Debate is the entry-level program of the National Hispanic Institute, a Latino youth leadership organization that has run university-based summer programs since 1979. It is built for current 9th graders and serves as the first step in NHI's multi-year pipeline, which continues with the Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session for 10th and 11th graders and the Collegiate World Series for 11th graders.

## What You'll Do

- Live on a university campus for roughly a week with a cohort of Latino student leaders
- Compete in structured debate, extemporaneous speaking, and public-address events
- Work in teams on community-issue analysis and persuasive argument
- Take part in leadership seminars run by NHI alumni and college-student staff
- Sit for evaluations that determine advancement within the NHI program ladder

## Who Should Apply

Great Debate is designed for current 9th grade students who want early practice in public speaking and community leadership. Students and families register directly with NHI; sites in 2026-2027 include the California Sol Great Debate at the University of San Diego, the Midwest Great Debate at Augustana College in Illinois, and Texas sites including Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.

## Outcomes

Participants build competitive speaking skills, a statewide and national Latino peer network, and eligibility to continue into NHI's later programs, where alumni take on senior student-leadership and staffing roles.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does NHI Great Debate cost?

NHI Great Debate costs $870. Many paid programs offer need-based financial aid or fee waivers — check the official site before ruling it out.

### Who is eligible for NHI Great Debate?

NHI Great Debate is open to high school freshmen. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is NHI Great Debate online or in person?

NHI Great Debate is an in-person program based in Multiple, Multiple States.

### How do I apply to NHI Great Debate?

Apply directly through National Hispanic Institute's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-28.
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