Socorro’s Rising Star: Iliana Perez named NM youth leader

With poise, passion, and an unwavering drive to lead, Socorro High School senior Iliana Perez has been selected as New Mexico’s Youth Leadership Council (YLC) representative, sponsored by the Socorro Electric Cooperative. The announcement came during a whirlwind of events that have cemented Perez as one of the most dynamic youth leaders in the state.

At just 17, Perez already boasts a resumé that reads like a blueprint for civic leadership: wrestler, county fair queen, football team manager, Sunday school teacher, and youth group member at San Miguel Church. Now, as she prepares to represent New Mexico on the national stage, her plans continue to climb higher, toward law school, military service, and a lofty goal to be president of the United States.

Iliana was only eight years old when she set out on this goal, stating that she had always said, “I’m going to be the first woman of Mexican descent to be president of the United States.” Her drive towards this goal has led to her parents referring to her as “Our little politico.”

Iliana’s journey is rooted deeply in community. From her early days in the Socorro County 4H showing goats to helping grow Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through her cooperative-sponsored service, Iliana lives the values of leadership and service.

Her selection to the YLC came as a surprise, not because she lacked the qualifications, but because she hadn’t prepared a formal speech like many others. Still, she stood before the panel and spoke straight from the heart.

Iliana explained that one of her cohorts told her, “You just spoke, no one can teach that.” She seems to have a natural talent for public speaking.

Her nomination came during the Youth Tour’s planning meeting, where delegates were asked to vote for a leader who would represent them nationwide. Perez’s spontaneous, heartfelt remarks won over her peers, and soon she found herself shaking hands, being congratulated, and fielding questions from co-op board members.

Last summer, Iliana interned at the county jail, an experience that shaped her understanding of justice and sparked her desire to become a prosecutor.

“Seeing it firsthand, it hurts. There’s a difference between someone who needs to be in jail and someone who needs treatment or rehab,” she said.

It’s this clarity, combined with her growing interest in public service, that has led her to pursue the Navy’s JAG program. Perez plans to take the ASVAB again this fall, with hopes of entering military law, a career that combines advocacy, structure, and service.

Perez doesn’t go it alone. Her twin sister, local coaches, church leaders, teachers, and community members are part of the “village” that continues to rally behind her. Her mother, Josephina Perez, expressed heartfelt thanks for the village of Socorro and all of those who have stepped up to encourage her children to be the best they can be. She states, “It takes a village and our village encourages her.”

Coach Joel Partridge, her longtime wrestling coach, is especially credited for instilling in her the confidence to speak boldly and lead fearlessly. Iliana commends this coach as well as coach James McNeil and his wife, Tasha McNeil, who acts as “Team Mom” and nurse, for pushing her to succeed and being a huge part of building her self-esteem. The essay she wrote to get into the YLC was actually about her experiences wrestling, and with these coaches.

During one memorable wrestling fundraiser, the twins were given just one raffle book because it was assumed they’d reach the same audience, but they sold through it and came back for more.

“They could sell ice to Eskimos,” her mother remarked.

Iliana’s year-long leadership journey will include national conferences, including travel to Nashville and additional visits to Washington, D.C. She’ll carry the voice of Socorro County with her, representing not just her co-op but the values of a tightly knit, supportive community.

“Socorro gives the children a village they need,” her mother said. “Our thanks go to our village, without it, none of this is possible.”

As Iliana looks toward college, military service, and a future in law and politics, her story continues to inspire. And for one New Mexico town, she’s not just a student of the week, she’s a beacon of what’s possible, representing Socorro on the national stage.