Midlothian, IL – Students in Bremen High School District 228 earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Program. The programs celebrate the hard work of thousands of high school students across the country to help them demonstrate strong academic performance.

For the first time, the academic awards recognize first-generation students, in addition to rural and small-town students, Black, Indigenous and Hispanic/or Latino students. The program provides more students with access to college as many institutions use the awards for their recruitment efforts.
At Bremen High School, 19 students were awarded. At Tinley Park High School, 8 students were recognized. Hillcrest High School had 24 students recognized. Oak Forest High School had 10 students.

The Bremen Prize winners are: Kaitlyn Blomfeldt, Frida Bocanegra Macias, Dulce Camargo, Cassidy Carten, Yoseline De La Rosa, Christopher DeHaas, Devyn Ferguson, Jacen Gertos, Juan Gomez, Asia Hawkins, Nataly Hernandez, Kamaya Johnson, Yoselin Martinez , Bailee McFall, Jonathan Murzyn, Jennifer Negrete, Andrik Rios, Johanna Telles and Cristian Zarate.

“We are extremely proud of our students and the commitment they have shown to academic success,” said Dr. Jessica Rucinski, principal of Bremen High School. “The students recognized this year have demonstrated achievement both in the classroom and on College Board assessments. The future looks bright for each of these students and we appreciate the recognition by the College Board for their efforts!”

The recipients from Tinley Park High School are Cayden Booker, Alexis Burke, Betzaira Castaneda, Alejandro Cordero, Berenice Hernandez, Samantha Hesse, Najlaa Mansour and Monserrath Montoya.

“The students and staff of Tinley Park High School are incredibly proud of our students who have received College Board Recognition,” said Dr. Theresa Nolan, principal of Tinley Park High School. “Their achievement highlights the academic opportunities available to all of our Titan students. We wish all our Titans continued academic success!”

The recipients from Hillcrest High School are: Olivia Alexander, Serenity Arrington, Pashance Booth, Johnel Brown, Emily Corona, Daniel Davalos, Olamilekan Fabamigbe, Kenneth Francis, Journey Giddens, Sema J Grover, Liyah Jackson, Breyanah Lewis, Ariyah Lowery, Isabella Marshall , Caimora Montgomery, Ashani Moore, Julius Nicholson, Michael Okechukwu, Cydney Perry, Makayla Rupert, Micah Scott, Sosha Williams, Sidney Yancy and Ariana Zaragoza.

“Congratulations to the Hillcrest Hawks for their tremendous academic achievement and recognition,” said Principal Ron Towner. “The Hillcrest community is so proud of all your achievements. You all tried your best to be great in the classroom and your efforts paid off. Keep up the good work and we look forward to all you can achieve in the future.”

The recipients from Oak Forest High School are: Savario Arvia, Scarlett Berrios, Emilia Dobrzyn, Jocelyn Esparza, Armeiah Girgis, Jordyn Klusacek, Jennifer Komolafe, Peter Maka, Ethan Nutile and Iyobosa Odiase.

“Oak Forest High School is pleased that the College Board is recognizing ten of our students through the National Recognition Program,” said Principal Jane Dempsey. “This program recognizes outstanding Black, Hispanic and first-generation students for their outstanding academic achievement. Congratulations on this recognition.”

Eligible students must meet the following criteria to qualify:
· Earn a GPA of B+ (equal to a minimum of 3.3 or 87%-89%) or higher.
· PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 assessment scores that fall within the top 10% of assessment takers in each state for each rewards program or have earned a score of 3 or higher on 2 or more AP exams by the end of 10th grade.
· Attend school in a rural area or small town, or identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native/Native American, or a first-generation college student.
The program was expanded this year with a fifth prize. More than 35,000 students across the country received the first National First-Generation Recognition Program Award.
Each year, students can verify their eligibility on BigFuture® during their sophomore or junior year. At the beginning of the next school year, students receive their awards for their communities to celebrate them and colleges to recruit them as they head back to school for their junior or senior year. Thousands of nonprofit colleges and organizations using College Board’s Student Search Service™ can connect with winners during the recruitment process to share more about their postsecondary programs.

“This year, the National Recognition Programs are recognizing more students than ever, ensuring the outstanding academic skills of more than 90,000 deserving students are not overlooked when planning for their future,” said Amy Reitz, senior vice president of BigFuture at College Board. “We are proud to support colleges and universities that are committed to supporting all students, and our program provides a way for them to strengthen their recruitment efforts for students who will thrive on their campuses.”

About Bremen High School District 228
Bremen High School District 228 is located in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago and serves the communities of Midlothian, Posen, Tinley Park, Markham, Hazel Crest, Country Club Hills and Oak Forest. District 228 serves more than 5,000 students and employs 800 full- and part-time employees. Bremen High School, in Midlothian, opened its doors to students in September 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, visit https://www.bhsd228.com/