By Christina Fernández-Morrow
Twenty-two years after its modest start, NELYS connects students with colleges, careers and the confidence to build futures in Nebraska
What began as a modest gathering of 200 students in 2003 has grown into one of Nebraska’s most influential catalysts for Latino youth success. More than 700 high school students and family members are expected at this year’s Nebraska Latino Youth Summit (NELYS), reflecting the event’s expanding role as a launching pad for higher education, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.
This year’s summit takes place Oct. 27, 2025, at the La Vista Conference Center in La Vista, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is free for students, and adults are encouraged to make a $10 donation.
A Summit Built on Access and Belonging
Organized by the Nebraska Commission on Latino-Americans, NELYS has evolved from an experiment to a cornerstone event that reflects both Nebraska’s changing demographics and its workforce needs. Organizers say the daylong event will offer a blend of inspiration and practical tools, including college admissions guidance, scholarship resources, hands-on career sessions, and direct connections with employers and post-secondary institutions.
“NELYS exists to make the future feel possible, diverse and practical,” said María Arriaga, executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Latino-Americans. “When NELYS started in 2003, we hoped to prove that access changes outcomes. Today, with 700-plus attendees, we see that access, paired with belonging and real opportunities, changes trajectories for students, families and communities.”
Across Nebraska, Latino students play a vital role in the state’s future workforce, as communities prepare for demographic shifts and seek to meet ongoing talent needs. NELYS responds by bringing colleges, apprenticeship programs and employers together in one place, offering families information in the language they prefer and creating space for educators, public servants and industry partners to collaborate on expanding opportunities.
From Exploration to Action
This year’s agenda includes career exploration, networking opportunities, breakout sessions and panel discussions designed to move students from curiosity to a blueprint of their future. A bilingual parent session anchors the summit’s family-forward approach, offering clear, accessible information on financial aid, school expectations and how families can support students from high school through higher education, vocational training and into the workforce.
“The heart of NELYS is connection,” Arriaga said. “Students leave with names, emails, deadlines and a sense that Nebraska’s campuses, training programs and employers are for them. That feeling—backed by clear steps—turns potential into plans.”
The summit will be emceed by Kristin Diaz, award winning broadcast journalist, and co-anchor of the KRLD Afternoon News in Dallas, Texas. The keynote speaker is Tom Venzor, executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference since 2016, whose father immigrated from Chihuahua, Mexico, in the 1980s. In his previous role, Venzor worked as a legislative aide in the Nebraska legislature.
Scholarships That Affirm Possibility
Each year during the Nebraska Latino Youth Summit, students who demonstrate perseverance and academic promise are awarded the Jesusita & Santos Baros Scholarship. The privately funded award provides financial assistance to Latino students pursuing higher education. This year, five students will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Created by Jane and Steve Shanahan, former owners of a mechanical and electrical business in rural Nebraska, the duo have dedicated their retirement to advocacy work on behalf of the Latino community. The fund honors Jesusita and Santos Baros, Jane Shanahan’s grandparents who emigrated to Nebraska from Mexico at the start of the twentieth century and reflects the spirit of the summit—encouraging youth to aim higher while remaining rooted in community.
Representation as a Road Map
The summit’s growth reflects a broader truth: Representation matters. Creating spaces where Latino leaders are visible creates an accessible path to possibility, affirming for young people that they belong, too and that their dreams are not only welcome in Nebraska, but are completely achievable.
As NELYS enters its 23rd year, it proves that when communities invest in access, information and belonging, students build futures that impact everyone.
For more information
Visit www.nebraska.gov/nelys to learn more about the Nebraska Latino Youth Summit and other programs from the Nebraska Commission on Latino-Americans.
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