Bremen High School students sitting in bleachers for students vs. staff basketball game with student Susann Cabrejo standing in front.

On April 27, students from Bremen High School made their way to the football field to lend a helping hand, and participated in the first students vs. staff soccer game. 

Bleachers filled with students on the hot April day while tickets sold fast to see if staff had a chance to beat our Bremen students in a game of soccer. Tickets to enter the bleachers were $2 each, and all proceeds for the event were donated to the American Diabetes Association, thanks to a determined student. 

The entire event was sparked by junior Susann Cabrejo, who was inspired by the National Honors Society's passion project to give back to a cause that hits close to home. 

“Most of my family on my dad’s side has some type of diabetes,” Cabrejo said. “I play club soccer and there is a girl who wears an insulin pack on her thigh, and she told me about how it works. I started to look into it more because I wanted my family to have access to something like this since most of them are in El Salvador and don’t have access to this stuff.”

This is when the junior Bremen student discovered the American Diabetes Association and the efforts they make to help those struggling with the condition. 

“Although they don’t necessarily help with what I was looking for, I learned about the other ways they help, like monitoring blood sugar and looking for a cure,” Cabrejo said. “I wanted to help them help other people, and hopefully set off a chain reaction that could make its way back to help my family.” 

Cabrejo began planning this event in November by working with school administrators to plan a date, time, and activity. Cabrejo’s love for soccer led to the school’s first-ever student vs. staff soccer game. 

Nearly 1,000 students and staff attended the event to either watch or play the game. Students took the win, and $2,000 were raised for the organization. 

The event was so successful that it received praise at the district level. Cabrejo was nominated and selected to be a Bremen High School District 228 Keeper of the Light, which is awarded to D228 students and staff who go above and beyond in the classroom and community, shedding a positive light. 

She received the recognition at the May 9 Board of Education meeting, where she was also presented with a large check to donate to the organization.