Tanya Rachan

About Tanya:

Born April 22, 1990.

Daughter of Shirley Micic of Lowell and Mike Rachan of Alsip, IL

Sister to Lisette, Noah, Danijela, Alek and Kristina.

Granddaughter of Jorge and Dory Ferrin of Florida and Frank and Dorothy Rachan of Lemont, IL

Attends Community Bible Church in Cedar Lake.

Accomplishments: Tanya Rachan is majoring in biology at Northern Illinois University. She received scholarships through the 2007 Junior Miss Program (she was first runner-up and won poise and fitness awards) and a full athletic scholarship from the college for gymnastics. A gymnast for 13 years, Rachan currently trains five days a week for four-and-a-half hours at Arena Gymnastics in Joliet. She competes at Level 10 in the bars, beam, floor and vault events. This year she placed fifth all-around at state and seventh all-around at regionals and her team placed second at nationals. A 2008 graduate of Hanover Central Junior Senior High School in Cedar Lake with a 4.0 grade point average, she was ranked eighth in her class. She was a member of National Honor Society, president of Spanish Club and was active in Key Club and Student Council. Rachan is named in Who's Who Among American High School Students and The National Honor Roll. Before leaving for college, she worked at the Walgreens

store in Cedar Lake.

Personal hero: "My mom. She's always been there for me, without her I wouldn't have gotten this far. She's my backbone."

What I read: "I like reading mysteries and fiction."

What I do for fun: "I like to cook and bake, hang out in the sun, shop, wash my car and hang out with my boyfriend."

People might be surprised to know: "I used to do commercials. I was in American Girl Magazine and did a commercial for the Sears Tower Sky Deck."

- SUE BERO, Times Correspondent

To nominate someone for this feature, e-mail slbero@hotmail.com