Last week, UT hosted its third annual Subiendo Academy for Rising Leaders, a five-day program that brings rising high school seniors from around Texas to the Forty Acres. While here they work on solutions to real policy issues and present their proposals to business and political leaders. The program is free, but admission is highly competitive.

Begun and supported by private gifts and administered by the McCombs School of Business, the academy’s goal is to develop leadership qualities in and address issues affecting Texas’ growing Hispanic population, which is both the largest and youngest minority group in America.

I had the privilege of meeting with these 81 students twice this week, and just as in past summers I was impressed by their insights and maturity. I hope many of them return as Longhorns. Meeting these young people always makes me sleep better at night knowing that they are the future of our state.

My thanks to Subiendo’s founders Kenny and Susie Jastrow and David and Suzanne Booth, Dean Tom Gilligan, and program director Leticia Acosta for making this wonderful, annual contribution to America’s future.

What starts here changes the world.