Click here to read the Glenbard News for October 6, 2026
This week’s Glenbard News Spotlight shines on Glenbard East senior Sherlyn Pagaza Urquizo. Check out the Q&A below to learn more about Sherlyn!
Hispanic Heritage Month means a lot to me because it is a time to celebrate where my family comes from and recognize the contributions Hispanic and Latino people have made to the United States. It makes me proud to see our languages, music, food, traditions, and stories being recognized. I also think it is important because being Hispanic is not just one experience — there are so many different cultures, countries, traditions and identities within the community.
I think more people should learn about the history behind Hispanic Heritage Month and about the role Hispanic people have had in shaping the country. For example, our communities have contributed to civil-rights movements, education, science, art, agriculture, business, and the military. I also wish people understood that Latin America is very diverse. Our backgrounds, races, traditions, accents, and family histories can be very different.
One Hispanic figure I find especially inspiring is Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina justice to serve in the U.S. Supreme Court. I find her encouraging because she represents the idea that young people from immigrant families, working-class communities, or underrepresented backgrounds can pursue ambitious goals. She grew up in a low-income Puerto Rican family in New York, and was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was young. Despite that, instead of allowing those experiences to discourage her, she used them to become more determined. Her life reminds me that success is not only about talent, it is also about persistence and believing that you deserve a place in rooms where important decisions are made.
Do you have a specific family tradition that holds special meaning?
A family tradition that holds special meaning to me is spending time with my parents during winter break eating pan dulce (sweet bread) and making champurrado. Champurrado is a traditional warm Mexican drink that is thick, sweet, and chocolatey. It is usually made with Mexican chocolate, masa harina, milk, cinnamon, and a sweetener known as piloncillo.
Aside from Latinos Unidos, I am the co-president of Glenbard East’s STEM Club and the co-vice president of our school’s Orchestra Leaders. Being involved in these groups has allowed me to connect with students who share my interests in science and music. These experiences have also strengthened my leadership, communication, and teamwork skills while allowing me to help make our school community more engaging and inclusive.
My favorite class that I’ve taken in high school is AP Chemistry! I love that AP Chemistry challenged me to apply concepts rather than simply memorize information. I learned about what matter is made of, how particles interact, and why chemical changes happen. In addition, I enjoyed the hands-on lab experiences connected to each unit. My favorite lab was creating soap bars during our acids and bases unit, although my group’s soap did not turn out very well. Above all, my teacher, Mrs. Zeller, made the class enjoyable and fun because she truly values her students’ success and has a strong love for teaching the material. I could not have asked for a better teacher to teach AP Chemistry.
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