COPPERAS COVE – Copperas Cove High School has announced its Top 10 graduates in the Class of 2025.
Tuesday, the campus will recognize its seniors for their achievements in the final year before embarking on their lives after high school.
These students have the highest cumulative grade point averages in their high school careers when compared to their peers.
“We are incredibly proud of these students for the work and dedication they’ve put into their academic careers and earning the distinction of being a Top 10 graduate,” Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins said. “Each of these students has proven themselves to be the best of the best and we can’t wait to see all of the wonderful things they accomplish in the future.”
The 2025 CCHS Valedictorian is Brenda Thomas.
“It’s super exciting,” Thomas said. “I’ve worked really hard for the past four years. Even my teachers in middle school were like, ‘You’re super smart, you’ve got this. Just keep up your grades,’ and I think it’s super special to see all of my hard work come to this.”
Thomas plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin after high school to pursue a degree in nursing.
This year’s Salutatorian is Nathaniel Roberts.
“I wasn’t planning to get [Salutatorian], but I’m really excited to have it,” Roberts said. “It’s a symbol, I can look at it later on and be like, ‘This shows how much I put into my education in high school.’”
After graduating from CCHS, Roberts plans to attend the University of North Texas to pursue a degree in graphic design.
The No. 3 graduate in 2025 is Janiya Bacon.
“It’s very special,” Bacon said. “I have five other siblings and out of all of them, I’ve earned the best rank, so I’m really happy and my parents are also really happy that I’m doing so well in school and did so well since elementary school. So, I’m really happy about this.”
Bacon plans to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio after high school to pursue a degree in health administration.
The No. 4 graduate in 2025 is Ethan Olson.
“The journey has constantly been to just get A’s,” Olson said. “I just kept doing that once I got to high school and, somehow, I ended up here.”
Olson plans to attend Texas A&M University in College Station after high school to pursue an engineering degree.
The No. 5 graduate in 2025 is Tina-Marie Akindayomi.
“It means a lot,” Akindayomi said. “Ever since elementary school, I’ve been thinking about how I’m going to get to high school, what am I going to do in high school, am I going to be a big achiever, am I just going to slack and not do anything. It’s just a fruition of all my work from elementary all the way up until now.”
After graduating from Cove, Akindayomi plans to attend the University of Texas at Dallas in a Pre-Med program.
The No. 6 graduate in 2025 is Ailene Rodarte.
“It was not the easiest, especially juggling sports and doing school, clubs, all of that,” Rodarte said. “I think it was hard, but rewarding. I’m graduating with both my associate’s and in the top one percent, so it was all worth it.”
After high school, Rodarte plans to attend the University of Texas-Permian Basin, where she will play soccer, and pursue a biology degree on a Pre-Med pathway.
The No. 7 graduate in 2025 is Nayyab Khan.
“I’m really excited,” Khan said. “I was hoping to keep my spot, I jumped around a lot during junior and senior year, so I’m happy I ended up here. Also, seven is one of my favorite numbers, so I’m happy I didn’t move around from it.”
After graduation this month, Khan plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin to pursue an aerospace engineering degree.
The No. 8 graduate in 2025 is Lainey Estores.
“I’m actually really proud of it,” Estores said. “I’m also really thankful to my family, though, because my parents were the ones who really pushed me to do well, academically. And, not just academically, but getting involved in my community and with people in my school, too.”
After graduating from Cove, Estores plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin to pursue a career in pharmacy.
The No. 9 graduate in 2025 is Amaya Griffin.
“It’s definitely been difficult, especially my junior year last year, because I was taking so many CTC classes and then two OnRamps classes, as well,” Griffin said. “It was really challenging to time-manage my college classes, but I finally did it and I got all A’s in everything.”
After graduation, Griffin plans to attend the University of North Texas to pursue a degree in hospitality management and attend culinary school afterward.
The No. 10 graduate in 2025 is Kristene Mejia.
“I’m very excited,” Mejia said. “I’ve put a lot of work into all of the stuff that I do in high school. Even back in middle school, I’ve been taking classes to get ahead in high school, taking high school classes. And then, when I was in high school, I found out about CTC classes and now I’m graduating with an associate’s degree, so it’s exciting.”
After graduation, Mejia plans to attend Tarleton State University to pursue a double-major in nursing and graphic design.
Copperas Cove High School will celebrate these students with the rest of the graduating class of 2025 at Senior Achievement Night at Lea Ledger Auditorium Tuesday evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Copperas Cove High School’s 2025 graduation ceremony is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. May 23rd at Cadence Bank Center in Belton.