COPPERAS COVE – Ten Copperas Cove High School students have earned national honors.
These students recently earned National Recognitions from the College Board.
To earn recognition through the National Recognition Program, students need to have taken the PSAT in 10th or 11th grades, earned 3 or better on at least two distinct AP exams in 9th or 10th grades, have a 3.30 or better GPA and identify as first-generation student, minority student or attend a rural or small-town school.
These ten students earned 18 recognitions across four categories.
Tina-Marie Akindayomi earned the African American recognition.
“I think it is very important,” Akindayomi said. “As someone who has faced discrimination for my parents being immigrants, this is a testament that anyone can be recognized despite the differences.”
Janiya Bacon earned the African American recognition.
“It makes me feel seen and makes me feel that all the effort that I put into my academics have not gone to waste,” Bacon said.
Jonathon Ferrell earned the African American, First Generation and Rural recognitions.
“It is cool to be recognized,” Ferrell said.
Nayyab Khan earned the First Generation and Rural recognitions.
Angeleah Kirby earned the African American and Rural recognitions.
“It feels good to be recognized for the hard work I have been putting in,” Kirby said.
Jose Lemus earned the First Generation, Hispanic and Rural recognitions.
Ethan Olson earned the Rural recognition.
“It makes me feel really good because I get to represent a small town that normally would not get represented,” Olson said.
Alyssa Patterson earned the Rural recognition.
“At first, I didn’t understand it,” Patterson said. “But, once I received more information, I was surprised.”
Marisol Rosas earned the Hispanic and Rural recognitions.
“That’s exciting,” Rosas said. “It makes me feel seen because I feel that I am being recognized for my hard work. I feel proud that they picked me out of the thousands of others that applied.”
And, Brenda Thomas earned the African American and Rural recognitions.
“It makes me feel happy that I got this recognition,” Thomas said. “Coming from a small town, I figured they would have had a harder time noticing me over someone from a big town."