Two Bremen High School students who plan to become the first from their families to attend college are getting a boost and a chance to showcase their talents at the state level.
Maya Contreras, of Midlothian, and Sophia Lara, of Posen, have been named 2027 Distinguished Young Women of Illinois and are on their way to competing in the state portion of the national program.
Both students said their parents, who are from from Mexico, are extremely hard working but lower-income, so scholarships are crucial to their goal of getting to college, and their participation in the Distinguished Young Women of Illinois program can help as well.
Contreras volunteers at Braves Closet, a program at the school in Midlothian that gives away gently used and new clothing and toiletries for students who need them. She’s also helped social workers on school mental health initiatives. Distinguished Young Women of Illinois organizers noted her kindness in advancing her to the state competition.
“I always give people a chance,” Contreras said. “I think a little kindness goes a long way.”
The competition gave Contreras a chance to meet new people and show off her talents, including Mexican folklore dancing from the state of Nayarit, not far from where her parents used to live in Jalisco, Mexico.
The dancing, she said, is “very unique and rooted in its culture.”
Contreras also is a member of the school’s National Honor Society, PEP club, poms, speech team and Student Council. She also helped found the school’s mariachi band and is involved in band, jazz ensemble, theater and runs cross country.
Contreras said she’s hoping to work in digital media and communication and was influenced by her mom, who works in information technology. Her dad is a mechanic. But she’s got other dreams, too, including acting.
Her talents wowed the judges and Tiana Pequette, chairwoman of Distinguished Young Women of Illinois.
“Maya performed a beautiful Mexican Folklorico dance routine, which stood out, both for its beauty and its representation of Maya’s cultural traditions,” said Pequette, who, herself was a Distinguished Young Woman. “The judges were impressed with Maya’s engaging interview, where her personality really shone.”
Fellow student Lara also was excited to compete at the state level.
At Bremen, she’s on the step team and like Contreras has embraced both dance and athletics.
“It was a challenge at first,” Lara said about step dancing, saying in addition to the dancing itself, the skill requires showing emitions alng with “energy and sharpness.” Lara also participates in Fuego dancing.
She’s learned self-confidence and poise along the way and is DECA state finalist, member of the Student Council executive board, and is on the varsity soccer team and varsity POMS squad. He’s also a National Honor Society Merit Community Service Award recipient.
Her passion is health care and she completed the Medicina Academy Apprentice Program at the University of Illinois Chicago. There she took college and career readiness and research classes. She’ll be a participant in a research study this summer at Anne and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Lara was able to showcase her interest in healthcare during the Distinguished Young Women of Illinois interview process, focusing on how many Black and Mexican-born children on the South Side have asthma.
“I want to make sure there are more resources (for them),” she said, explaining she hopes to become a respiratory therapist, also after watching her mom’s experience with asthma. “I am a big athlete, so I understand how breath is an important aspect of living. “I want to be sure to help as many as I can improve their standard of living.”
Lara said her parents held her to a “high standard” growing up. Her mom works with both disabled and immigrant children and “is my biggest role model.”
The judges were impressed, not just with Lara’s dance talent but her ability to clearly articulate her thoughts and passions.
“Sophia performed a powerful step dance routine, which demonstrated her skills and strength,” said Pequette. “The judges were impressed with Sophia’s confidence and excellent communication skills during her interview.”
Other finalists from the south suburbs are Sara Ocampo and Tuleen Duweik, both students at Andrew High School in Tinley Park.
“These are ambitious, hard-working girls who will be the future leaders of America,” said Pequette said of all the finalists.
Pequette said the finalists will next receive coaching from talent and fitness coaches and gain other experience.
The showcase is July 26 at 3 p.m. at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, with tickets available for the public and an awards ceremony with scholarships awarded.
Those selected as the 2027 Distinguished Young Women of Illinois will get to participate in June, 2027 in the national finals Mobile, Alabama, for a chance to win more scholarships.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
