Since Sofia Nolasco began attending the Lone Star Leadership Academy summer camps three years ago, she has transformed herself from a shy and introverted young girl into a confident leader.
Now an eighth grader at Col. John O. Ensor Middle School, Sofia has consistently ranked in the top 10 of her class since sixth grade. Her achievements include winning first place at last year's districtwide middle school science fair with her solar robot project, excelling in math, science and modern oratory UIL competitions and serving as this year’s student council president. Her journey has demonstrated that with the right opportunities, anyone can thrive and reach their full potential.
“The Lone Star camps have helped me develop leadership skills, and they've helped me become more confident in myself,” said Sofia, who attended the camp from June 7 to 14.
In recognition of her outstanding accomplishments, Sofia was selected to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the Socorro ISD Board of Trustees regular meeting in September 2025.
Sofia's experience in the Lone Star Leadership Academy exemplifies how leadership training can inspire a passion for learning and lead to success.
During the weeklong camps, third to eighth graders in Texas cultivate leadership skills through visits to historically significant locations like the Alamo and the Texas State Capitol. Teachers nominate outstanding students for this exciting opportunity, and those selected can travel to places like Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin/San Antonio, or Houston/Galveston.
“This past summer, I learned about what the word stewardship means, and it means everyone helps out and does their part. I think I can use the skills that I learned in stewardship in all my activities,” said Sofia, who also serves as vice president for her school’s National Junior Honor Society.
This year, Sofia and her sister Isabel Nolasco, a sixth grader at Ensor Middle School, had an amazing time at the Austin/San Antonio camp. They explored Texas’ largest cavern, the Natural Bridge Caverns and panned for amethyst and rose quartz. At the Alamo, they engaged in a role-playing activity as Texas soldiers, purchasing supplies like shirts and shaving kits, before heading off to war, which deepened their understanding of history.
“We had to get in the mindset of a soldier back in the times of the Texas Revolution. That was really amazing,” Sofia said.
During her previous two visits to the Dallas/Fort Worth camp, Sofia enjoyed trips to the Fort Worth Stockyards and a behind-the-scenes tour of AT&T Stadium. At each landmark she visited, she gained valuable insights into the state’s heritage, which she was eager to share with others, her mom Ruth Gutierrez said.
“She's able to share those experiences with us and with her friends and with her teachers,” Gutierrez said. “I think it enhanced what she's learning in the classroom with her teachers. Sometimes she's got a little insider info to add to it, and she loves that.”
Her father, Fransico Nolasco, said that each time his daughter returns from the leadership camp, she has become more proactive and has shown real initiative.
“On the first day of school, she was already planning her science fair project,” Francisco Nolasco said. “Now she feels that if she has an idea or some kind of initiative, she just starts working on it right away.”
Sofia not only loves sharing her knowledge about Texas but is also passionate about performing. Since she was three years old, she has taken dance classes at a local studio.
This year, she has been showcasing her talent as a member of the Eastlake Cadets flag team, where she cheers for both the Ensor Eagles and the Eastlake High School Falcons at games and events. This experience has helped her connect with Eastlake High students, easing her nerves about starting high school next year with familiar faces around her.
She plans to enroll in the SATA Academy at Eastlake, a four-year computer science program focused on cybersecurity, where students can earn dual credit.
“Computers are really interesting to me because I want to know how they work. I want to know how they run, and I want to know how to keep your information safe from hackers. I want to know how the hackers try to get in and how to block them from getting in,” said Sofia, who has been taking electives related to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through the school’s Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum.
Sofia's involvement in the Lone Star Leadership camps and other programs like the Spanish club, and Gifted and Talented program has kickstarted her future planning. She plans to join the Lone Star Leadership Academy Alumni Council next year and return to the camps as a youth facilitator. While she knows circumstances can change, she feels secure in her potential for success.
“I feel pretty confident knowing that I have an idea of what I want,” Sofia said. “I know that things can always change, and life doesn't always go the way we planned, but I feel assured that I know what I want to do, and I have an idea of how I'm going to achieve it.”