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Luis Latozefsky

1x

Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Speech and Debate
  • Community Service And Volunteering

Reading

-

Bio

I was born in Venezuela, where politics surrounded my family. My father and my mother served as political opposites. One day, the brother of the current mayor, a five-star general, sent a threat: “We are going to burn your house and your kids in it.” That was the moment I learned how politics could destroy lives. Our lives were in danger, and we fled Venezuela. When I arrived in the United States, I faced the challenge of adapting to a new language and culture while finding my own voice. I am an aspiring civic leader and award-winning public speaker with 15+ district-level awards, a Blue Key national champion, and a Harvard national champion. Founder of the Hispanic Debate Society and passionate advocate for immigrant and Hispanic communities through policy engagement and media. Bilingual (English/Spanish), an American Dream Debate Ambassador, and a district representative.

Education

Lake Brantley High School

High School

2022 – 2026

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Majors of interest:
Political Science and Government
Desired degree modality:
In-Person
Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • Created content on immigrant history and policy; 5K+ views Highlighted underrepresented voices in digital media

    Research · Immigration en espanol

    Jan 2024 – Jan 2026

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Law Practice
Work experience:
1 year
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Politics
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
Ani Porter Pre-Law Scholarship
When I lived in Venezuela, politics surrounded my family. My father ran for mayor, and my mother served as a councilwoman. One day, the brother of the current mayor, a five-star general, sent a threat: “We are going to burn your house and your kids in it.” That was the moment I learned how politics could destroy lives. Our lives were in danger, and we fled Venezuela. When I immigrated to the United States, I entered an ESOL classroom where language became, ironically, my greatest barrier. I could think faster than I could speak. I spoke with a strong accent and a speech impediment. But instead of letting that belief define me, I fought it. I want to study political science to understand how power works, and how it can be used for peace and justice. I aim to get close and see firsthand the works that shape societies, ensuring that politics prioritizes the protection of lives. I made the decision to join the speech and debate team. At first, I felt completely out of place. Many teammates underestimated me because of my accent, my limited experience, and the fact that I did not look or sound like everyone else. They made me feel unwanted. However, I still remember the moment my coach looked at me and said: “Luis, you are capable. I can feel it in my bones, there's something special about you.” For the first time in years, I started believing it too. I continued competing in speech and debate while managing academic demands, family responsibilities, and peers' doubts. Over time, I became champion of the University of Florida national tournament, runner-up at the Grand National Catholic Tournament, and eventually a finalist at the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament, becoming the first Hispanic student in history to reach that stage. But I quickly realized my growth could not stop at self-improvement. There were other bilingual and ESOL students sitting in classrooms, feeling exactly how I once felt: unheard. That realization pushed me beyond personal success and into leadership. I founded the Hispanic Debate Society to create a space where immigrant and bilingual students could practice public speaking without fear of judgment. Students who once refused to speak in class began competing in debate rounds, leading discussions, and discovering confidence in their own voices. What started as a small club eventually expanded into institutional change. Speech and debate became integrated into my district’s “Leaders in Action” curriculum, increasing access to civic speaking opportunities across multiple schools. We also helped establish the American Dream Debate, the first Spanish-language debate tournament in my county. My leadership extended beyond speech and debate as well. I was selected as the only student representative on the Seminole County Public Schools Strategic Planning Steering Committee, where I helped shape a five-year plan serving more than 67,000 students. There, I advocated for stronger counseling resources and better support for students facing challenges like mine. If you ask me about this degree and major, I can tell you that politics could have ended my life, but it can also be the reason I help others rebuild their life. Life can try to knock you down, but if you dare to keep going, no person, no system, no threat can take away the one thing humans are truly entitled to: our voice and our agency to act. In the end, it is not a burning house that defines us; it is what we choose to do with that fire: we use it, or we let it burn us. I am confident in using it.
Maria's Legacy: Alicia's Scholarship
When I lived in Venezuela, politics surrounded my family. My father ran for mayor, and my mother served as a councilwoman. One day, the brother of the current mayor, a five-star general, sent a threat: “We are going to burn your house and your kids in it.” That was the moment I learned how politics could destroy lives. Our lives were in danger, and we fled Venezuela. When I immigrated to the United States, I entered an ESOL classroom where language became my greatest barrier. I could think faster than I could speak, but my words often failed me. I spoke with a strong accent and a speech impediment. But instead of letting that belief define me, I fought it. I want to study political science to understand how power works, and how it can be used for peace and justice. I aim to investigate the mechanisms that shape societies, ensuring that politics prioritizes the protection of lives over threats. I joined my school’s speech and debate team to develop my voice, but I quickly realized my growth could not stop at self-improvement. I saw other bilingual and ESOL students struggling with the same fear I had once felt. I founded the Hispanic Debate Society, a space where immigrant students could speak without fear of judgment seen themselves as capable leaders. At the same time, I eventually became a finalist at the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament, becoming the first Hispanic student in my school and district history to reach that stage. That moment was not only personal; it reshaped how students in my community viewed what was possible for them. What began as a small initiative expanded into institutional change. Speech and debate were later integrated into my district’s “Leaders in Action” curriculum, expanding civic speaking opportunities for students across multiple schools. Seeing a program, I helped build become part of district education showed me that student leadership can shape systems, not just exist within them. My civic work extended beyond my school as well. As an ambassador for the Florida Debate Initiative’s American Dream Debate Tour, I spoke to audiences across multiple districts and helped organize the first Spanish-language debate competition in my county. I was also selected as the only student representative on the Seminole County Public Schools Strategic Planning Steering Committee, where I helped shape a five-year plan for over 67,000 students, advocating for greater access to counselors and stronger student support systems. If you ask me about this degree and Carrer of Criminal Justice, I can tell you that politics could have ended my life, but it can also be the reason I help others rebuild their life. Life can try to knock you down, but if you dare to keep going, no person, no system, no threat can take away the one thing humans are truly entitled to: our voice and our agency to act. I had a choice: run from the danger that shaped me or face it and use my experience to make a difference. I choose action. I choose to study, to speak, to lead, and to create systems that protect, rather than threaten, communities. With this Scholarship, I see the space to transform fear into understanding, and purpose into real change. In the end, it is not a burning house that defines us; it is what we choose to do with that fire: we use it, or we let it burn us. I am confident in using it.
Valerie Rabb Academic Scholarship
“I can’t do it.” Those were the words I repeated to myself during the final round of a Dragon Ball card tournament in Venezuela. I lost that match, but what stayed with me was not the game; it was the belief behind those words. That belief followed me far beyond childhood. When I later immigrated to the United States, I entered an ESOL classroom where language became my greatest barrier. I could think faster than I could speak, but my words often failed me. I spoke with a strong accent and a speech impediment, and even simple classroom moments felt overwhelming. At one point, when I mispronounced basic words in front of my classmates, laughter made me question whether I truly belonged in academic spaces at all. At home, I was also adjusting to a new life shaped by responsibility. My mother’s illness and my family’s losses meant I often had to take on emotional and practical responsibilities earlier than expected. There were moments when balancing school, family needs, and personal adjustment felt overwhelming. “I can’t do it” became a quiet thought I carried more often than I admitted. But instead of letting that belief define me, I began to challenge it. I joined my school’s speech and debate team to develop my voice, but I quickly realized my growth could not stop at self-improvement. As I gained confidence in speaking, I saw other bilingual and ESOL students struggling with the same fear I had once felt. That realization led me to found the Hispanic Debate Society, a space where immigrant and bilingual students could practice public speaking without fear of judgment and begin to see themselves as capable leaders. At the same time, I continued competing in speech and debate while managing academic demands and family responsibilities. Over time, what once felt like a weakness became my greatest strength. I eventually became a finalist at the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament, becoming the first Hispanic student in my school and district history to reach that stage. That moment was not only personal; it reshaped how students in my community viewed what was possible for them. What began as a small initiative expanded into institutional change. Speech and debate were later integrated into my district’s “Leaders in Action” curriculum, expanding civic speaking opportunities for students across multiple schools. Seeing a program I helped build become part of district education showed me that student leadership can shape systems, not just exist within them. My civic work extended beyond my school as well. As an ambassador for the Florida Debate Initiative’s American Dream Debate Tour, I spoke to audiences across multiple districts and helped organize the first Spanish-language debate competition in my county. I was also selected as the only student representative on the Seminole County Public Schools Strategic Planning Steering Committee, where I helped shape a five-year plan for over 67,000 students, advocating for greater access to counselors and stronger student support systems. Through all of this, I was still learning to manage personal adversity: family illness, loss, and the ongoing challenge of adapting to a new country. But those experiences shaped my purpose rather than limiting it. Today, I no longer see “I can’t do it” as a conclusion. I see it as the beginning of an effort. My goal in my career path is to study political science and public leadership so I can help build systems that expand opportunity and voice for communities like mine. In the end, I learned that adversity does not define what we become. It reveals what we choose to build from it.
Rev. Ethel K. Grinkley Memorial Scholarship
When I lived in Venezuela, politics surrounded my family. My father ran for mayor, and my mother served as a councilwoman. One day, we were threatened: “We are going to burn your house and your kids in it.” That was the moment I learned how politics could destroy lives. While I was rebuilding my life after fleeing Venezuela, I carried two responsibilities at once: adapting to a new country under pressure and helping others find their voice in a system that often felt inaccessible to them. I spoke English with a speech impediment and a strong accent, often aware that my ideas moved faster than my words could carry them. It would have been easy to focus only on myself, only on survival, only on making it out of high school. But I also saw students around me facing similar barriers, especially bilingual and ESOL students who were capable, intelligent, and full of ideas, yet did not feel confident in English, and they did not have enough faith. That helped me shape a decision that would define my high school experience. I joined my school’s speech and debate team to develop my own voice, which God wanted me to have for a long time, but I quickly understood that my growth could not stop there. As I learned to speak with more confidence, I began helping others do the same. After giving a lot of thought, I decided to found the Hispanic Debate Society to create a space where bilingual and immigrant students could practice public speaking without fear of judgment. At the same time, I achieved a historic milestone with the help of my faith by becoming the first Hispanic student in school and district history to win the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament. That accomplishment reshaped how students in my community viewed their own potential, showing that students from immigrant backgrounds could succeed at the highest national level. What began as a small initiative grew into something institutional: speech and debate were later integrated into my district’s “Leaders in Action” curriculum, expanding civic speaking opportunities across schools. Seeing a program I helped build become part of district-wide education showed me how student leadership can shape systems, not just participate in them. My civic work expanded beyond school as well. As an ambassador for the Florida Debate Initiative’s American Dream Debate Tour, I became a keynote speaker for audiences of over 22 districts. We created the first Spanish-language debate competition in the State. I was selected as the only student representative on the Seminole County Public Schools Strategic Planning Steering Committee, where I helped shape the five-year plan for over 67,000 students. advocating for greater access to counselors and stronger student support systems. Throughout all of this, I was still managing my own challenges. My mom's illness, my aunt's death, and financial difficulties. There were moments when I felt stretched between my own life and faith and my love for God, but it was precisely that which kept me grounded. Helping others speak reminded me why I needed to keep improving my own voice in the first place. What motivated me was simple but powerful: in this generation, the belief is that people need to give us opportunities to succeed, but I know it, we don't need opportunities, we can create opportunities for ourselves. And that starts today. In the end, it is not a burning house that defines us; it is what we choose to do with that fire: we use it, or we let it burn us. I am confident in using it.
Clayton James Miller Scholarship
When I lived in Venezuela, politics surrounded my family. My father ran for mayor, and my mother served as a councilwoman. One day, we were threatened: “We are going to burn your house and your kids in it.” That was the moment I learned how politics could destroy lives. While I was rebuilding my life after fleeing Venezuela, I carried two responsibilities at once: adapting to a new country under pressure and helping others find their voice in a system that often felt inaccessible to them. I spoke English with a speech impediment and a strong accent, often aware that my ideas moved faster than my words could carry them. It would have been easy to focus only on myself, only on survival, only on making it out of high school. But I also saw students around me facing similar barriers, especially bilingual and ESOL students who were capable, intelligent, and full of ideas, yet did not feel confident in English. That helped me shape a decision that would define my high school experience. I joined my school’s speech and debate team to develop my own voice, but I quickly understood that my growth could not stop there. As I learned to speak with more confidence, I began helping others do the same. After giving a lot of thought, I decided to found the Hispanic Debate Society to create a space where bilingual and immigrant students could practice public speaking without fear of judgment. At the same time, I achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Hispanic student in school and district history to win the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament. That accomplishment reshaped how students in my community viewed their own potential, showing that students from immigrant backgrounds could succeed at the highest national level. What began as a small initiative grew into something institutional: speech and debate were later integrated into my district’s “Leaders in Action” curriculum, expanding civic speaking opportunities across schools. Seeing a program I helped build become part of district-wide education showed me how student leadership can shape systems, not just participate in them. My civic work expanded beyond school as well. As an ambassador for the Florida Debate Initiative’s American Dream Debate Tour, I became a keynote speaker for audiences of over 22 districts. We created the first Spanish-language debate competition in the history of my county and Miami-Dade County. I was also selected as the only student representative on the Seminole County Public Schools Strategic Planning Steering Committee, where I helped shape the five-year plan for over 67,000 students. advocating for greater access to counselors and stronger student support systems. Throughout all of this, I was still managing my own challenges. My mom's illness, my aunt's death, and financial difficulties. There were moments when I felt stretched between my own life and the responsibility I had taken on to support others. But it was precisely that which kept me grounded. Helping others speak reminded me why I needed to keep improving my own voice in the first place. What motivated me was simple but powerful: in this generation, the belief is that people need to give us opportunities to succeed, but I know it, we don't need opportunities, we can create opportunities for ourselves. And that starts today. In the end, it is not a burning house that defines us; it is what we choose to do with that fire: we use it, or we let it burn us. I am confident in using it.
Helen Segarra Gutierrez Butterfly Scholarship
When I lived in Venezuela, politics surrounded my family. My father ran for mayor, and my mother served as a councilwoman. One day, we were threatened: “We are going to burn your house and your kids in it.” That was the moment I learned how politics could destroy lives. While I was rebuilding my life after fleeing Venezuela, I carried two responsibilities at once: adapting to a new country under pressure and helping others find their voice in a system that often felt inaccessible to them. I spoke English with a speech impediment and a strong accent, often aware that my ideas moved faster than my words could carry them. It would have been easy to focus only on myself, only on survival, only on making it out of high school. But I also saw students around me facing similar barriers, especially bilingual and ESOL students who were capable, intelligent, and full of ideas, yet did not feel confident in English. That helped me shape a decision that would define my high school experience. I joined my school’s speech and debate team to develop my own voice, but I quickly understood that my growth could not stop there. As I learned to speak with more confidence, I began helping others do the same. After giving a lot of thought, I decided to found the Hispanic Debate Society to create a space where bilingual and immigrant students could practice public speaking without fear of judgment. At the same time, I achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Hispanic student in school and district history to win the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament. That accomplishment reshaped how students in my community viewed their own potential, showing that students from immigrant backgrounds could succeed at the highest national level. What began as a small initiative grew into something institutional: speech and debate were later integrated into my district’s “Leaders in Action” curriculum, expanding civic speaking opportunities across schools. Seeing a program I helped build become part of district-wide education showed me how student leadership can shape systems, not just participate in them. My civic work expanded beyond school as well. As an ambassador for the Florida Debate Initiative’s American Dream Debate Tour, I became a keynote speaker for audiences of over 22 districts. We created the first Spanish-language debate competition in the history of my county and Miami-Dade County. I was also selected as the only student representative on the Seminole County Public Schools Strategic Planning Steering Committee, where I helped shape the five-year plan for over 67,000 students. advocating for greater access to counselors and stronger student support systems. Throughout all of this, I was still managing my own challenges. My mom's illness, my aunt's death, and financial difficulties. There were moments when I felt stretched between my own life and the responsibility I had taken on to support others. But it was precisely that which kept me grounded. Helping others speak reminded me why I needed to keep improving my own voice in the first place. What motivated me was simple but powerful: in this generation, the belief is that people need to give us opportunities to succeed, but I know it, we don't need opportunities, we can create opportunities for ourselves. And that starts today. In the end, it is not a burning house that defines us; it is what we choose to do with that fire: we use it, or we let it burn us. I am confident in using it.
Goobie-Ramlal Education Scholarship
When I lived in Venezuela, politics surrounded my family. My father ran for mayor, and my mother served as a councilwoman. One day, the brother of the current mayor, a five-star general, sent a threat: “We are going to burn your house and your kids in it.” That was the moment I learned how politics could destroy lives. Our lives were in danger, and we fled Venezuela. Instead of letting that fear turn into hate, I chose to transform it into purpose. I want to study political science to understand how power works, and how it can be used for peace and justice. I aim to investigate the mechanisms that shape societies, ensuring that politics prioritizes protecting lives over threats. My "training arc" took me from the back of an ESOL classroom to the podium at the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament. Competing against 6,000 students, I became the first Hispanic student in history to tie for first place in Original Oratory. But my goal was never just personal trophies. I wanted to build a system that ironically could never hurt anyone, even in speech and debate. I founded the Hispanic Debate Society, growing it to over 40 members at my school, and later made it a Statewide moment with the help of the Florida Debate Initiative, and successfully advocated for the integration of speech and debate into the "Leaders in Action" curriculum for ESOL students in Seminole County. My transition from advocate to leader reached the state level when I was selected as the only student representative for the Seminole County Strategic Planning Steering Committee, helping design a five-year plan for 67,000 students. Recently, I stood before the Florida House and Senate, delivering testimony that secured five new sponsors for a bill promoting speech and debate, a bill that passed unanimously every time it was presented. Politics could have ended my life, but it can also be the reason I help others rebuild theirs. Life can try to knock you down, but if you dare to keep going, no person, no system, no threat can take away the one thing humans are truly entitled to: our voice and our agency to act. I had a choice: run from the danger that shaped me, or face it and use my experience to make a difference. I choose action. I choose to study, to speak, to lead, and to create systems that protect, rather than threaten, communities. I see the space to transform fear into understanding, and purpose into real change. In the end, it is not a burning house that defines us; it is what we choose to do with that fire: we use it, or we let it burn us. I am confident in using it.
Julie Holloway Bryant Memorial Scholarship
When I lived in Venezuela, politics surrounded my family. My father ran for mayor, and my mother served as a councilwoman. One day, the brother of the current mayor, a five-star general, sent a threat: “We are going to burn your house and your kids in it.” That was the moment I learned how politics could destroy lives. Our lives were in danger, and we fled Venezuela. Instead of letting that fear turn into hate, I chose to transform it into purpose. I want to study political science to understand how power works, and how it can be used for peace and justice. I aim to investigate the mechanisms that shape societies, ensuring that politics prioritizes protecting lives over threats. My "training arc" from the very beginning as a hispanic first generation student life here was a challenge, took me from the back of an ESOL classroom to the podium at the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament. Competing against 6,000 students, I became the first Hispanic student in history to tie for first place in Original Oratory. But my goal was never just personal trophies. I wanted to build a system that ironically could never hurt anyone, even in speech and debate. I founded the Hispanic Debate Society, growing it to over 40 members at my school; later, with the help of the Florida Debate Initiative, I made it a Statewide moment and successfully advocated for the integration of speech and debate into the "Leaders in Action" curriculum for ESOL students in Seminole County. My transition from advocate to leader reached the state level when I was selected as the only student representative for the Seminole County Strategic Planning Steering Committee, helping design a five-year plan for 67,000 students. Recently, I stood before the Florida House and Senate, delivering testimony that secured five new sponsors for a bill promoting speech and debate, a bill that passed unanimously every time it was presented. I know how hard it can be to be bilingual, but because of these experiences i know there's something each one of us can do, and it's simple: fight for something you stand for. Politics could have ended my life, but it can also be the reason I help others rebuild theirs. Life can try to knock you down, but if you dare to keep going, no person, no system, no threat can take away the one thing humans are truly entitled to: our voice and our agency to act. I had a choice: run from the danger that shaped me, or face it and use my experience to make a difference. I choose action. I choose to study, to speak, to lead, and to create systems that protect, rather than threaten, communities. I see the space to transform fear into understanding, and purpose into real change. In the end, it is not a burning house that defines us; it is what we choose to do with that fire: we use it, or we let it burn us. I am confident in using it.
New Beginnings Immigrant Scholarship
When I lived in Venezuela, politics surrounded my family. My father ran for mayor, and my mother served as a councilwoman. One day, the brother of the current mayor, a five-star general, sent a threat: “We are going to burn your house and your kids in it.” That was the moment I learned how politics could destroy lives. Our lives were in danger, and we fled Venezuela. Instead of letting that fear turn into hate, I chose to transform it into purpose. I want to study political science to understand how power works, and how it can be used for peace and justice. I aim to investigate the mechanisms that shape societies, ensuring that politics prioritizes protecting lives over threats. My "training arc" took me from the back of an ESOL classroom to the podium at the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament. Competing against 6,000 students, I became the first Hispanic student in history to tie for first place in Original Oratory. But my goal was never just personal trophies. I wanted to build a system that ironically could never hurt anyone, even in speech and debate. I founded the Hispanic Debate Society, growing it to over 40 members at my school, and later made it with the help of the Florida Debate Initiative, a Statewide moment. and successfully advocating for speech and debate to be integrated into the "Leaders in Action" curriculum for ESOL students in Seminole County. My transition from advocate to leader reached the state level when I was selected as the only student representative for the Seminole County Strategic Planning Steering Committee, helping design a five-year plan for 67,000 students. Recently, I stood before the Florida House and Senate, delivering testimony that secured five new sponsors for a bill promoting speech and debate, a bill that passed unanimously every time it was presented. Politics could have ended my life, but it can also be the reason I help others rebuild theirs. Life can try to knock you down, but if you dare to keep going, no person, no system, no threat can take away the one thing humans are truly entitled to: our voice and our agency to act. I had a choice: run from the danger that shaped me, or face it and use my experience to make a difference. I choose action. I choose to study, to speak, to lead, and to create systems that protect, rather than threaten, communities. I see the space to transform fear into understanding, and purpose into real change. In the end, it is not a burning house that defines us; it is what we choose to do with that fire: we use it, or we let it burn us. I am confident in using it.
Brooks Martin Memorial Scholarship
As strange as it sounds, one of my most important lessons about perspective began with food. I’m from Venezuela, which is right next to Colombia, two countries that have argued for generations over who truly invented the arepa. It’s a small debate about a round corn cake, but it often turns into a conversation about identity and pride. I grew up hearing these arguments at family gatherings, where everyone took a side, everyone except my aunt. She was Venezuelan, yet part Colombian, and refused to pick one. “They’re different,” she’d say. “You can’t compare them, just enjoy them.” Her words frustrated me. To me, avoiding sides meant avoiding truth. Venezuelan arepas are just the best arepas, period. until I saw her for the last time. Cancer had taken her voice, and even the arepas she loved were out of reach. That silence taught me more than any argument ever could. I realized she understood the truth better than all of us. hadn’t avoided the truth. Life will always be full of bias, but real understanding comes when we listen long enough to see differences as complements. even when I tried to remain unbiased, I just couldn't seem to change the feeling off, I had no other option than to accept it, I was wrong, sadly it had to come from the death of a loved one, That realization changed how I see the world. In debate, it helped me stop arguing to win and start listening to understand. As captain of my speech and debate team, I now encourage teammates to approach rounds not as battles, but as bridges, to find the humanity behind every opposing case. In Student Government, when cultural clubs clashed over event space, I led a discussion that turned conflict into collaboration by focusing on shared goals rather than competing identities. I am grateful that in my life I had the chance to meet someone who, without knowing the answers to everything, or even knowing more than most, still had something most didn't, and I will always try to be the same way. So, what will my classmates learn from me? That respectful disagreement isn’t the opposite of unity; it’s the beginning of it. Trust me, I've seen it, even when I didn't want to. Whether we’re talking about food, culture, or philosophy, the most powerful conversations are the ones that feed us all. So, when the moment comes, I will show them a Venezuelan arepa, and if they don’t like it, I’ll smile and say, “That’s okay. Try this Colombian arepa.”
Ryan T. Herich Memorial Scholarship
Finding a hero does not always require looking through history books; sometimes, it requires looking across the dinner table. I admire my parents, whose resilience in the face of political persecution in Venezuela transformed my understanding of agency and purpose. My father, a mayoral candidate, and my mother, a councilwoman, stood firm in their convictions even when a five-star general threatened to burn our house with us inside. They chose to flee to the United States with nothing, sacrificing their status to ensure my safety. Their sacrifice is the foundation of my drive to pursue a degree in Political Science, as I seek to master the legal and systemic mechanisms that protect communities from the very threats that once defined my life. My journey toward higher education began in the back of an ESOL classroom, where I spent five years navigating the dual hurdles of a new language and a physical speech impediment. For a long time, I believed my voice was a liability. However, watching my parents navigate a foreign system with humility and grit inspired me to treat my education as a "training arc". This led me to take 11 AP courses, ranging from Macroeconomics to U.S. Government, as I worked to bridge the gap between a quiet immigrant student and a scholar of the American political system. This same desire to overcome silence motivated my participation in speech and debate. I initially joined the team because I was tired of being afraid. I wanted to prove that an accent and a speech impediment did not equate to a lack of ideas. My early years were defined by losses and ballots that I studied until 2 a.m., treating every critique as a sparring match in my development. This persistence eventually led to a historic milestone: becoming the first Hispanic student to tie for first place in Original Oratory at the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament. Competing against 6,000 students from 15 countries, I realized that my voice was a platform for advocacy. This realization fueled my transition into leadership, where I served as Speech Captain and mentored over 40 teammates. My motivation for debate evolved from self-improvement to systemic change. I founded the Hispanic Debate Society to ensure that ESOL and bilingual students had a space where their voices were valued. I successfully advocated for speech and debate to be integrated into the "Leaders in Action" curriculum in Seminole County, expanding access to talent that often goes unrecognized. My involvement in debate also opened doors to legislative advocacy. I served as a Special Speaker and Delegate at the Florida Capitol, where I advocated for civic education programs. In February 2026, I worked with the Florida Debate Initiative to give speeches to both the House and Senate to propose speeches for a new law supporting speech and debate. By delivering supplemental information and briefing materials, I helped secure five new sponsors for a bill that passed unanimously every time it was presented. Ultimately, I participate in speech and debate because it is where I reclaimed my agency. My parents showed me that while systems can take your home, they cannot take your education or your voice if you are willing to fight for them. I am motivated to pursue higher education to become a leader who builds protective systems rather than threatening ones, using the fire of my past to light the way for others.
Dan Leahy Scholarship Fund
Finding a hero does not always require looking toward history books; sometimes, it requires looking across the dinner table. I admire my parents, whose resilience in the face of political persecution in Venezuela transformed my understanding of agency and purpose. My father, a mayoral candidate, and my mother, a councilwoman, stood firm in their convictions even when a five-star general threatened to burn our house with us inside. They chose to flee to the United States with nothing, sacrificing their status to ensure my safety. Their sacrifice is the foundation of my drive to pursue a degree in Political Science, as I seek to master the legal and systemic mechanisms that protect communities from the very threats that once defined my life. My journey toward higher education began in the back of an ESOL classroom, where I spent five years navigating the dual hurdles of a new language and a physical speech impediment. For a long time, I believed my voice was a liability. However, watching my parents navigate a foreign system with humility and grit inspired me to treat my education as a "training arc". This led me to take 11 AP courses, ranging from Macroeconomics to U.S. Government, as I worked to bridge the gap between a quiet immigrant student and a scholar of the American political system. This same desire to overcome silence motivated my participation in speech and debate. I initially joined the team because I was tired of being afraid. I wanted to prove that an accent and a speech impediment did not equate to a lack of ideas. My early years were defined by losses and ballots that I studied until 2 a.m., treating every critique as a sparring match in my development. This persistence eventually led to a historic milestone: becoming the first Hispanic student to tie for first place in Original Oratory at the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament. Competing against 6,000 students from 15 countries, I realized that my voice was a platform for advocacy. This realization fueled my transition into leadership, where I served as Speech Captain and mentored over 40 teammates. My motivation for debate evolved from self-improvement to systemic change. I founded the Hispanic Debate Society to ensure that ESOL and bilingual students had a space where their voices were valued. I successfully advocated for speech and debate to be integrated into the "Leaders in Action" curriculum in Seminole County, expanding access to talent that often goes unrecognized. My involvement in debate also opened doors to legislative advocacy. I served as a Special Speaker and Delegate at the Florida Capitol, where I advocated for civic education programs. In February 2026, I worked with the Florida Debate Initiative to give speeches to both the House and Senate to propose speeches for a new law supporting speech and debate. By delivering supplemental information and briefing materials, I helped secure five new sponsors for a bill that passed unanimously every time it was presented. Ultimately, I participate in speech and debate because it is where I reclaimed my agency. My parents showed me that while systems can take your home, they cannot take your education or your voice if you are willing to fight for them. I am motivated to pursue higher education to become a leader who builds protective systems rather than threatening ones, using the fire of my past to light the way for others.
Luis Latozefsky Student Profile | Bold.org