Bremen HS D228 Students Receive College Board Recognition

BREMEN TOWNSHIP, IL - A number of students from Bremen High School District 228 have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These programs celebrate students' hard work in high school and showcase their strong academic performance. The academic honors for rural area, Black, Indigenous, and/or Latino students are an opportunity for students to share their strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs that are seeking to recruit diverse talent.

At Bremen High School, 10 students received the academic honor of National Hispanic Recognition Award (NHRA). Our Braves who received the recognition are: Abraham Sanchez, Andrea Orozco, Ayleen Olvera, Isabel Cazares, Jose Hernandez, Luis Castro, Miguel Lopez, Ricardo Avila, Sebastian Bocanegra Macias, and Yoseline De La Rosa.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate our students and recognize them for the great work they’ve been doing. We’re proud of their strong academic performance in the classroom and on College Board assessments like the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and AP® exams,” said Dr. Jessica Rucinski. “There’s so much that makes our students unique, and receiving this honor reinforces this as an asset for their future.”

At Tinley Park High School, two students received the academic honor of National African American Recognition Award (NAARA) . Our Titans who received the recognition are: Gionna Haines and Kaylah Forrest.

“As the Principal of Tinley Park High School, I am incredibly proud of Gionna and Kaylah to be recognized for this award,” said Dr. Theresa Nolan. “I can confidently say that the entire Titan Family is proud of their accomplishments and we are lucky to call them Titans! Way to go!”

Over at Hillcrest High School, eight students received the academic honor of either the National African American Recognition Award (NAARA) or the National Hispanic Recognition Award (NHRA). Our Hawks who received the recognition are: Alan Rodriguez (NHRA), Isabella Marshall (NAARA), Jakemah Calhoun (NAARA), Jaylin Butler (NAARA), JayQuan Ratliff (NAARA), Karol Lopez (NHRA), Natalia Perez (NHRA), and Olivia Alexander (NAARA).

“Congratulations on your incredible achievement and recognition,” said Hillcrest Principal Ron Towner. “The administration, faculty and staff of Hillcrest are proud of your accomplishments. You all are an example of what can be accomplished through hard work and dedication to your academic success.”

At Oak Forest High School, six students received the academic honor of National Hispanic Recognition Award (NHRA). Our Bengals who received the recognition are: Miguel Urquizo, Carmen Frausto, Maxwell Corral, Adian Rangel and Monica Venancio. Julia Fierro received the NHRA along with the National Indigenous Award.

"We are so proud of the work our students do in the classroom, community and athletic arenas," said Oak Forest High School Principal Jane Dempsey. "It is wonderful that our students are recognized for their hard work and achievements via the College Board. These students are just one example of what makes Oak Forest High School so great."

The criteria for eligible students includes a GPA of 3.5 or higher, PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 assessment scores that are within the top 10% of assessment takers in each state for each award program or earned a score of 3 or higher on 2 or more AP Exams in 9th and 10th grade, and attend school in a rural area or small town, or identify as African American/Black, Hispanic American/Latino, or Indigenous/Native.

Eligible students are invited to apply on BigFuture during their sophomore or junior year and are awarded at the start of the next school year in time to share their achievements in high school as they plan for the future. At the same time, colleges and organizations using College Board’s Student Search Service™ can connect directly with awardees during the recruitment process.

“It’s becoming increasingly hard for students to be ‘seen’ during the college recruitment process. We’re exceptionally proud of the National Recognition Programs for celebrating students who are at times overlooked but have shown their outstanding academic abilities,” said Tarlin Ray, senior vice president of BigFuture® at College Board. “This is a benefit not only for students but also for colleges and universities committed to recruiting diverse and talented students.”

About Bremen High School District 228
Bremen High School District 228 is located in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and serves the communities of Midlothian, Posen, Tinley Park, Markham, Hazel Crest, Country Club Hills and Oak Forest. District 228 serves over 5,000 students and employs 800 full and part-time staff members. Bremen High School, in Midlothian, opened its doors to students in September of 1953. Since then, District 228 opened three additional schools. Tinley Park High School opened in 1961; Hillcrest High School, in Country Club Hills, opened in 1967; and Oak Forest High School opened in 1970. For more information, please visit https://www.bhsd228.com/