Two students from Bremen High School, Maya Contreras and Sophia Lara, plan to be the first in their families to attend college. They have been honored as 2027 Distinguished Young Women of Illinois and will compete at the state level of a national program.
Maya Contreras, from Midlothian, volunteers at Braves Closet, a school program providing clothing and toiletries for students in need. She also assists with mental health initiatives. Her kindness helped her advance in the competition.
Maya said, “I always give people a chance. I think a little kindness goes a long way.”
Through the competition, Contreras showcased her talents, including a traditional Mexican folklore dance from Nayarit, near her parents’ roots in Jalisco, Mexico. She excels academically and participates in various extracurricular activities, including the National Honor Society, PEP club, poms, speech team, and Student Council. She founded the school’s mariachi band and is involved in theater, cross-country running, and jazz ensemble. Her career interest lies in digital media and communication, influenced by her mother in information technology and her father, a mechanic. Acting is also one of her aspirations.
Tiana Pequette, chairwoman of Distinguished Young Women of Illinois, praised Contreras for her dance performance representing her cultural traditions. The judges appreciated her engaging interview and personality.
Fellow student Sophia Lara, from Posen, also earned the opportunity to compete at the state level. At Bremen, she is on the step team, which integrated dance with emotions, energy, and precision. Lara also engages in Fuego dancing. She is a member of the Student Council’s executive board, a varsity soccer and POMS team member, and a DECA state finalist. She also received the National Honor Society Merit Community Service Award.
Lara’s passion is in healthcare. Through the Medicina Academy Apprentice Program at the University of Illinois Chicago, she took college readiness and research classes. This summer, she will participate in a research study at Lurie Children’s Hospital.
“I want to make sure there are more resources for children with asthma,” Lara said. She aims to become a respiratory therapist influenced by her mother’s experience with asthma.
Lara’s parents set high expectations, and her mother, an advocate for disabled and immigrant children, is her role model. Pequette highlighted Lara’s step dance performance for its demonstration of skill and strength, and the judges admired her confidence and communication abilities during interviews.
Other finalists include Sara Ocampo and Tuleen Duweik from Andrew High School. Pequette describes the finalists as ambitious and hard-working, poised to become future leaders.
The finalists will receive training from talent and fitness coaches. The showcase event is set for July 26 at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, where public tickets are available. The event includes an awards ceremony with scholarships. Those selected will compete in the national finals in Mobile, Alabama, in June 2027, offering more scholarship opportunities.
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