Elber Lopez Paz

Hometown: Rocky Point, North Carolina

School: Heide Trask Senior High School

Elber Lopez Paz proudly represents the son of Mexican immigrants, Valentin and Socorro Paz Lopez. A junior at Heide Trask High School in rural North Carolina, Elber serves as Vice President of the student body and participates in over a dozen school and community organizations, including Beta Club, Key Club, and Science Olympiad. Raised in an agricultural town, Elber has witnessed the challenges local farmers face—from environmental threats to pesticide exposure—and is committed to advocating for their safety. Through his leadership, he has organized service projects, led community fundraisers, and spoken out on issues affecting his region. Bilingual, devoted, and academically driven, Elber aims to study business finance and policy to amplify Latino voices and protect agricultural communities. Elber applied to CHCI NextGen, seeking to gain essential skills and build a network that will allow him to turn his advocacy into actionable solutions for future generations.