COPPERAS COVE – Copperas Cove ISD students continue to earn awards for sustainability efforts.
Four campuses and a team member at a fifth were recently recognized for their work with the Youth Environmental Ambassadors! program.
Hettie Halstead Elementary School earned a trio of awards, first for sustained excellence in sustainability, having won the Greater Fort Hood Recycle Bowl once again and for winning Lights Out Lunch.
“These achievements are a direct result of the hard work of our student council, whose efforts have truly made a difference,” said Hettie Halstead Elementary principal Dr. Tonya Sweeney. “With the leadership from our student council sponsors, our students have embraced the importance of caring for their environment and have taken meaningful steps to positively impact our community. I am incredibly proud of the dedication and commitment to sustainability this group has shown.”
Fairview/Jewell Elementary was recognized for sustained excellence, as well as winning Pull Together to Make a Difference, which collected pull tabs from aluminum cans to recycle and support Ronald McDonald House Charities.
“Our campus community came together to collect more than 100 pounds of aluminum pull tabs to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities,” Fairview/Jewell principal Dr. Rebekah Shuck said. “This project provided our students with a meaningful opportunity to learn about service, generosity and the impact that even small actions can have when we work together. We are proud of the compassion our students showed through their efforts to help families in need and we are grateful to be part of a community that values giving back.”
Martin Walker Elementary was recognized for sustained excellence in the YEA! program.
“Being recognized as a 2026 Youth Environmental Ambassador and earning the Sustained Excellence awardee for the Greater Fort Hood area is a testament to the hard work, dedication and heart of our student council,” said Martin Walker Elementary principal Kelly Thompson. “They represent our campus with pride and show us every day what it truly means to be a Bulldawg. I am incredibly proud of their excellence and grateful for the ongoing support and guidance of our student council sponsors who make this impactful work possible.”
House Creek Elementary was named a Rising Star campus in the YEA! program, as well.
“The Rising Star award means a great deal to our House Creek community,” said House Creek Elementary principal Carolyn Jackson. “This was our first year participating in the program and we are already seeing tremendous success. It is incredibly rewarding to recognize our students for their commitment to environmental stewardship through recycling, beautification and sustainability and look forward to our community getting to see this work at the coming Festival of the Arts.”
Crossroads High School teacher Renee Moore was also recognized as an environmental ambassador throughout Copperas Cove, extending beyond her work with students in YEA! initiatives.
“I’m just thankful to be a part of the community and helping motivate the students on my campus,” Moore said. “It means a lot to me to be a positive influence on the students.”
The Cen-Tex Sustainable Communities Partnership, in collaboration with Fort Cavazos Child & Youth Services (CYS) School Liaison Office Adopt-A-School Program, offered the Youth Environmental Ambassadors! (YEA!) program to empower youth to make a meaningful difference within their school’s footprint and community and lead in sustainability efforts in the Central Texas region. Schools were challenged to participate in one or more of the initiatives.
Schools from Killeen, Copperas Cove, Belton, Temple, Salado, Lampasas, Jarrell, Florence, Oglesby and Gatesville ISD’s are eligible to participate in the local YEA! Program.
The week’s award ceremony was held as part of Sustainable Environment Month, and included a proclamation signing as part of the festivities.