Coppell High School - Cowboys

On May 19, Class of 2025 CHS graduate Harshva Vinoth Kumar earned an impressive 3rd place in the State of Texas in the 6A UIL Social Studies competition. His dedication and academic excellence made him a standout among the state’s top competitors. A big thank you to UIL Social Studies coach and teacher Connor Blake for his guidance and support throughout the season.

Pranav Raju, a rising senior at Coppell High School, was recently honored as one of the 20 Under 20 Global Young Leaders, Class of 2025 by the World Affairs Council of Dallas/ Fort Worth. Recognized at a special event celebrating youth leadership and global engagement, Raju was selected for his outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to making a positive impact on his community and beyond.

Commencement ceremonies on May 23 were filled with pride, joy and plenty of celebration as the Class of 2025 from New Tech High @ Coppell and Coppell High School celebrated their graduation. With dazzling indoor and outdoor fireworks lighting up the ceremonies, these seniors didn’t just graduate —they ignited their futures in spectacular fashion. Class of 2025, we are so proud of you! As a reminder, video of both ceremonies are available at www.coppellisd.com/o/cisd/page/graduation. HS graduation photos by Rachel Chio and Naseeha Masood of The Sidekick student newspaper at CHS, a Career and Technical Education Communications Program of Study.

🌟✨ Celebrating Dedication and Excellence! 🌟✨ During the May 19 Board Meeting, we proudly recognized our outstanding staff members for their incredible years of service. Congratulations to: Danielle "Dani" Todd - 30 Years at Lakeside Elementary Mary Johnson - 30 Years at Mockingbird Elementary Estrella "Star" Primera - 30 Years at Town Center Elementary Alex Zuniga - 35 Years in Facilities and Maintenance Cyndi Hubbard - 35 Years at Mockingbird Elementary Laura Springer - an amazing 40 Years at Coppell High School Thank you all for your unwavering commitment to education and our community. Your dedication inspires us all!

As we prepare to celebrate the Class of 2025 on May 23, let’s take a moment to congratulate our outstanding Valedictorians and Salutatorians for their incredible achievements. From Coppell High School, Valedictorian Ashia Argarwal, a former Pinkerton Elementary and CMS West student, will be attending Duke University to study computational science, while Salutatorian Jackson Chen, who attended CMS East, is headed to Rice University to major in Biology. From New Tech High @ Coppell, Valedictorian Eshani Bangalore, who attended Austin Elementary and CMS East, will study finance at SMU, and Salutatorian Sanya Pillai, who attended Cottonwood Creek and Lee Elementaries and CMS West, will pursue Business Administration and Biology at the University of Texas at Austin. Congratulations to each of these remarkable students — and to the entire Class of 2025! We look forward to celebrating your accomplishments at graduation ceremonies.

🎾 Congratulations, Lexie Patton! 🎉 Lexie fought hard and showcased incredible skill at the 6A State Tennis Tournament, earning the State Runner-Up title in Girls Singles! 🥈🔥 From intense rallies to unwavering determination, Lexie gave it her all and made us so proud. Your dedication, sportsmanship, and fierce focus are truly inspiring! 💪💙

On May 2, Coppell High School honored a talented group of student-athletes during a Signing Day ceremony. Surrounded by teammates, coaches, and family members, these students officially committed to continue their athletic and academic journeys at the collegiate level. Congratulations to the following signees: Baseball Riley Bishop – University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy Drew Minnick – LeTourneau University Cole Mitchell – Clarendon Junior College Joaquin Oaxaca – Texas Lutheran University Cheer Kristin Price – University of Tennessee Hannah Wells – Abilene Christian University Cross Country Matthew Mirza – University of Dallas Drill Team / Lariettes Emme Lenahan – University of Texas Football Zac Durbin – Ouachita Baptist Andrew Gross – Morehead State Joshua Lock – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Allan Sorenson – Howard Payne University Jordan Stafford – Morehead State Boys Soccer Lane Ladner – Bethany College (West Virginia) J McGill – Colorado School of Mines Girls Soccer Tatum Hesse – Morningside University Annemarie Olilepo – Midland University Swim & Dive Autumn Ayakawa – SUNY Cortland Dylan Moreno – Ouachita Baptist University Track & Field Lauren Sanchez – St. Edward’s University These signings represent the hard work, dedication, and excellence of CISD's athletic community.

Coppell Track & Field wrapped up an outstanding 2025 season with several athletes earning top 10 finishes at the UIL State Meet. Sophomore Maya Easterwood delivered an impressive performance in the 3200m, clocking in at 10:27.16 to claim 3rd place. Junior Ainsley Bramer earned 4th place in the shot put with a throw of 42-9.5, while senior Braydon Walker secured 9th in the same event with a 52-7.5 mark. In the pole vault, sophomore Mia Schuller vaulted 11-6 to finish 8th. These strong showings highlight Coppell’s depth and promise for the future of the program.

Six Coppell High School Seniors are among the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s Scholarship Winners. Congratulations to: Ashia Agarwal, who plans to study Computational Computer Science Surya Akurati, who plans to study Computer Systems Analysis Joshua Blatt who plans to study Chemical Engineering Yashitha Chunduru, who plans to study Law Sai Priya Kasiraman, who plans to study Computer Science Deepali Kanchanavally, who plans to study Aerospace Engineering The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program and receive a scholarship of $2,500.

n late April, Coppell High School’s World Schools Debate team earned an impressive 3rd place finish at the Tournament of Champions in Lexington, Kentucky — one of the most competitive national tournaments in the country. Under the leadership of Debate Director Dr. Jason Sykes and Debate Coach SunHee Simon, the team of Safiya Azam, Anjana Boppana, Anya Gupta, Justin Murdock and Ananya Nair showcased exceptional skill and determination. Their path to the semifinals included defeating numerous members of the official USA National Team and Team Texas, as well as upsetting the tournament’s top-seeded team in the quarterfinals. Competing against elite debaters from across the country and even international teams like Kenya, Coppell’s students proved they belong among the nation’s best.

Last weekend, talented student artists from CHS9 and CHS made their mark at the 2025 State VASE (Visual Arts Scholastic Event) in San Marcos. These state qualifiers had the opportunity to take part in hands-on art workshops, share their portfolios with colleges, compete for scholarships, and showcase their work alongside the top 10% of more than 32,000 regional entries. CHS9 and CHS students earned 22 State Medals and one Photography Competition Scholarship, proudly highlighting the creativity and passion that define our district. CHS9 State VASE Medalists and Qualifiers Poshika Eswara – 2 State Medals Anika Jain – State Medal Natasha Kumar Olivia Rebello – State Medal Pratyasha Sahoo – State Medal Sahana Sudhir – 2 State Medals Varshini Avula – 2 State Medals Yu Imai – Photography Competition Scholarship Winner Aditri Sikdar – State Medal CHS State VASE Medalists and Qualifiers Safiya Azam Ayan Dadsena – State Medal Neel Hammers – 2 State Medals Sandhya Karthick – State Medal Sahasra Kalakonda – State Medal Iris Liu – State Medal Lidia Nolan – State Medal Sese Oshionebo Sahiti Peechara Nuthana Ramaneedi – 2 State Medals Meghna Ramaswamy – State Medal Ivy Tien – State Medal Agamya Vajramani – State Medal Matteo Zanelli – State Medal

Coppell High School juniors Ashwin Mohan and Sneha Patil have achieved the remarkable accomplishment of earning perfect scores on the March 2025 SAT. Both students, currently juniors, demonstrated exceptional academic excellence and dedication in preparing for this nationally recognized college admissions exam. Their achievement is a proud reflection of their hard work, the support of their families and teachers, and the academic rigor at CHS. #MyHomeIsCISD

Tune into YouTube each week to #CatchupWithHunt as he shares stories from across the district. This week you can catch Dr. Hunt celebrating the recent AP Student Art Show at the Coppell Arts Center with CHS art teachers Brennen Fruge and Michelle Hauske, CHS9 art teacher Elsa Reynolds and CHS sophomore Mahathi Kumar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWn_148pPEQ

The Coppell Cowgirls claimed 1st place overall at the Region 1 6A Championship held April 14–15 at Tangle Ridge Golf Course in Grand Prairie, finishing with a dominant 600-stroke team total. Alicia Bellendir tied for first individually with a 73/71 (144) but narrowly lost in a four-hole playoff. Riya Bapna followed closely with a 74/72 (146), earning third place. Both Bellendir and Bapna secured spots on the All-Region First Team. Nethra Sheri (77/78 – 155), Isabella Nguyen (79/78 – 157), and Elizabeth Bellendir (77/84 – 161) rounded out the strong team performance. The team now looks ahead to the Golf State Championship to be held April 28–29 at White Wing Golf Course in Georgetown.

Let’s raise our voices in celebration for the Coppell Choir, whose harmonious hard work and pitch-perfect passion earned them Sweepstakes honors at UIL with straight 1s from all six judges!.While their stunning performances truly struck a chord, it’s the dedication, growth and ensemble spirit they’ve shown throughout this journey that deserves a standing ovation. Watching these talented singers grow in confidence and musicality, under the leadership of choir directors Bona Coogle, Aaron Coronado and Katherine Conkovich, has been an inspiring experience, and we’re so excited to see where their next verse leads.

Tune into YouTube each week to #CatchupWithHunt as he shares stories from across the district. This week you can catch Dr. Hunt at the Baseball and Softball Party at the Parks event on April 8, where he speaks with Softball player Emma Praytor. The video also features Softball player Lena Gay singing the National Anthem with teammate Riley Warren signing the song in American Sign Language. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH0udXE7RC8

CISD Destination Imagination Teams did remarkably well at the recent state competition against the strongest teams from 16 regions across Texas. Congratulations to: Team: Dumpster Divers Won 5th Place Medal in Secondary Level, Technical Challenge: Breaking Point Qualified for Global Finals held in Kansas City, Missouri, May 22-25, 2025 Team members: Maxwell Hall (CMS East, 8th), Sahana Iyer (New Tech, 10th), Virginia Hall (New Tech, 10th), Naisha Dey (CHS9), Pranamya Shrikant (CHS, 10th) and Rohan Jain (CHS9) Team: Small Eyed Owls Ranked 7th Place in Secondary Level, Scientific Challenge: Worlds Beyond Team members: Macy Rogerson (CHS9), Reid Dodd (New Tech, 9th), Will Crawford (CHS9) and Anna Olougouna (CHS9) Team: Ocean Chicky Exploding Volcanoes Ranked 13th Place in Elementary Level, Technical Challenge: Breaking Point Team members: Claire Midtbo (Wilson, 3rd), Lauren Bond (Wilson, 3rd), Matías Espino (Wilson, 3rd), Joshua Rolón (Wilson, 3rd), Luis Carrasco (Pinkerton, 3rd), Liam Carrasco (Pinkerton, 3rd) and Luca Carrasco (Pinkerton, 3rd)

🎉 Happy National Assistant Principals Week! 🎉 This year, National Assistant Principals Week is celebrated from April 7–11. CISD is proud to join school districts across the nation in honoring the hard work, dedication, and impact that assistant principals have on student success. We are incredibly grateful for the outstanding leadership and support our assistant principals provide to students, staff, and our entire learning community. Thank you for all you do to serve our learners! Special shoutout to the amazing assistant principals at CISD: 👩‍🏫 Coppell High School: Associate Principal Taylor Smith-Bothun, Justin Helpenstill, Jeremy Jordan, Colleen Lowry, Dan McCready, and Anna Wanderski 👨‍🏫 New Tech & Victory Place: Garrett Voelker 👩‍🏫 Coppell High School Ninth Grade Campus: Nathan Harvey and Jessica Lynch 👨‍🏫 East: Rob Borenstein and Carrie Boyle 👩‍🏫 North: Linda Rothey and Stephen Frank 👨‍🏫 West: Matthew Telepak and Ayasha Greene 👩‍🏫 Austin: Brianna Sanford 👨‍🏫 Canyon Ranch: Kylie Godinez and Kat Yegge (who also serves Lee) 👩‍🏫 Cottonwood Creek & Pinkerton: Julie Springer 👨‍🏫 Denton Creek: Laura Melson 👩‍🏫 Lakeside: Allison Parsons 👨‍🏫 Lee: Angel Buchanan 👩‍🏫 Mockingbird: Dr. Julie Dawes 👨‍🏫 Town Center: Tiffany Lee 👩‍🏫 Valley Ranch: Sheryl Dennehy 👨‍🏫 Wilson: Leigh Ann Howard Thank you for all you do, and for making a difference every day! 🌟

Congratulations to the Varsity and JV high school boys and girls Track & Field teams, who are both District Champions! The top four in each varsity event have qualified to compete in the Area Track & Field Meet next Friday in McKinney. Way to go Cowboys and Cowgirls Track and Field!

CISD was recognized for its unwavering support of military service members at the March 31 Board Meeting, receiving several prestigious awards from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Retired Colonel James “JP” Hogan and retired Texas Army National Guard Major General and former State Representative Rick Noriega were on hand to present the awards, underscoring the significance of this honor. Lieutenant Colonel Esther Splawn, a Special Education teacher at Coppell High School and a dedicated member of the Marine Corps Reserves, along with her husband Eric Splawn, a retired veteran and a teacher at New Tech High @ Coppell, and Marine Corporal Reserve Sam Odorizzi, a former Cottonwood Creek student who now serves as a Structured Learning Aide at Cottonwood Creek Elementary, nominated CISD and several of its employees for ESGR Patriot Awards. Their nominations led to multiple recognitions, District-Wide Awards: Coppell ISD – Above and Beyond Award Coppell ISD (State of Texas Public Sector) – Pro Patria Award Also at the meeting it was announced that CISD is one of 30 businesses and organizations in the U.S. that are a finalist for the National Pro Patria Award to be announced later this year with the award to be presented at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Individual Employee Awards: Laura Springer, Principal at CHS Anna Wanderski, Assistant Principal at CHS Chris Gollner, Principal at CMS North Stephanie Fleischhauer, Intervention Services Specialist Zane Porter, Principal at New Tech High @ Coppell Garrett Voelker, Assistant Principal at New Tech High @ Coppell and Victory Place @ Coppell Kara Lindquist, CHS9 Special Education Teacher Amber Warrington, New Tech High @ Coppell Special Education Teacher Dr. Andra Penny, Principal at Cottonwood Creek Elementary Lieutenant Colonel Splawn expressed her gratitude, stating, “CISD is the most supportive civilian employer I have ever had in my nearly 15 years of serving as a reservist.”