Nalleli Cabanillas-Medina (Left) was selected by Maine Prairie High School as the April Young Woman of the Month for Soroptimist International of Dixon. She was joined by Maine Prairie Principal Angelina Arias. Photo courtesy of Soroptimist International of Dixon

DIXON, CA (MPG) – Nalleli Cabanillas-Medina was selected by Maine Prairie High School as the April Young Woman of the Month for Soroptimist International of Dixon.

Cabanillas-Medina is the daughter of Eisar Fransico Cabanillas and is the oldest of two siblings, Sofia Rose and Eisar. Cabanillas-Medina was raised in Dixon until she was 13 years old and then moved to Vacaville in November 2020. She attended Vaca Pena Middle School and then Buckingham High School while in Vacaville. She then moved back to Dixon and has been attending Maine Prairie High School and living with her nana.

Cabanillas-Medina was presented by Angelina Arias, the principal of Maine Prairie.  Although working mostly independently to progress with her credits, Cabanillas-Medina will often come to the campus and sit in a quiet corner in the front office to have a quiet space and a structured environment - she knew she needed that environment to progress. She has taken advantage of all the resources that Maine Prairie has to offer in order to progress and excel.

“Soft spoken, determined, self-driven and self-directed” are all terms used to describe Cabanillas-Medina by Arias. Arias stated that she is “a tremendous positive role model for her peers”.

Cabanillas-Medina's accomplishment, which she is most proud of, is that she is 18 years old and, for a year now, has been mostly independent. She works two jobs while finishing high school.

While at Buckingham High School, Cabanillas-Medina was a member and vice president of the music club. This club eventually became “The Mustang Band,” and Cabanillas-Medina is a proud and active member of this band that performs throughout the year. This band often partners with the Rowland Freedom Center, which is a nonprofit aviation and military museum located at the Nut Tree Airport in Vacaville. While also at Buckingham High School, Cabanillas-Medina was secretary of the drama club and advance chair, ASB event coordinator and cash box supervisor and a member of the varsity soccer team. She also travelled with a student group to Japan.

Cabanillas-Medina plans to attend a community college and then enter the Marines with the hope of going into nursing. Soroptimist International of Dixon members wish Cabanillas-Medina the best in her future pursuits. Although quiet and soft spoken, all can see that this is a “strong silence,” as Cabanillas-Medina is a woman who is independently driven to do amazing things.