Senior wins Conexión Américas essay prize
Alondra Martínez Ordaz ’26 recently won the Grand Prize at the Conexión Américas Orgullo Hispanic Awards Ceremony for her essay on the strength and resilience of the Hispanic community.
By Jeff Edmonds, Assistant Head of High School for Academic Affairs
For the second year in a row, a USN student was named the grand prize winner in the 17th Annual Youth Essay and Multimedia Contest sponsored by Conexión Américas. The contest's theme this year was "Nuestra Comunidad – Fuerte y Resiliente | Our Community – Strong and Resilient."
Alondra Martínez Ordaz's '26 essay was selected for the grand prize in the contest, which featured writing from high schoolers all over Tennessee. Alondra was recognized along with three other finalists at the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Awards. Alondra wrote in her essay about her work with HOLA and LUCHA, our Latino/Hispanic family and student affinity groups. She also wrote about the relationship between resilience and pride:
Eunice Ponce '27 won the grand prize in 2024.
You can read an excerpt of Alondra's award-winning essay below, where she also wrote about the relationship between resilience and pride: "The final form of resilience, which I believe is the most impactful, is having pride. Some of the issues that are occurring at the moment have the goal to paint a negative image of our culture, we can’t let this contort what we know to be our traditions and blood. I am fully aware of who I am, the role my Mexican heritage plays in that, it gives me strength and such a beautiful perspective of life. I confidently and proudly wear my Mexico jersey, traditional clothing, jewelry, brown skin, and everything people may associate with being Mexican. I help organize events during Hispanic Heritage Month and participate whenever I can to share my culture. Me showing pride in my culture gives the statement of “We’re here, we know who we are, and we’re here to stay” to those trying to cause strain and tension between us. "
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For the second year in a row, a USN student was named the grand prize winner in the 17th Annual Youth Essay and Multimedia Contest sponsored by Conexión Américas. The contest's theme this year was "Nuestra Comunidad – Fuerte y Resiliente | Our Community – Strong and Resilient."
Alondra Martínez Ordaz's '26 essay was selected for the grand prize in the contest, which featured writing from high schoolers all over Tennessee. Alondra was recognized along with three other finalists at the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Awards. Alondra wrote in her essay about her work with HOLA and LUCHA, our Latino/Hispanic family and student affinity groups. She also wrote about the relationship between resilience and pride:
Eunice Ponce '27 won the grand prize in 2024.
You can read an excerpt of Alondra's award-winning essay below, where she also wrote about the relationship between resilience and pride: "The final form of resilience, which I believe is the most impactful, is having pride. Some of the issues that are occurring at the moment have the goal to paint a negative image of our culture, we can’t let this contort what we know to be our traditions and blood. I am fully aware of who I am, the role my Mexican heritage plays in that, it gives me strength and such a beautiful perspective of life. I confidently and proudly wear my Mexico jersey, traditional clothing, jewelry, brown skin, and everything people may associate with being Mexican. I help organize events during Hispanic Heritage Month and participate whenever I can to share my culture. Me showing pride in my culture gives the statement of “We’re here, we know who we are, and we’re here to stay” to those trying to cause strain and tension between us. "
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2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
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University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.