Coppell football grads experience success at next level

By Chris Reagan Staff Writer Coppell’s recent success in football is no secret and this success has carried over to the college level with seven Division I scholarships being given out in the past five years and one player who has practiced in the NFL. Most Coppell students now remember running backs Cam McDaniel and Evans Okotcha, but before these two there was Emmanuel Moody. Moody is one of the most successful football players to come out of Coppell High School since graduating in 2005. Initially, Moody committed to Texas but eventually was convinced by USC to sign with the Trojans. He enjoyed some success winning the 2006 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year award but…

PSAT scores are in for Juniors

by Chase Porter Staff Writer On Oct. 12, the junior class began their first steps toward college and senior year by taking the PSAT or the practice SAT. This test is just a taste of the actual SAT that most of the juniors will be taking later this school year and early this upcoming summer. The PSAT, like the SAT challenges students in the areas of analytical reading, writing and mathematics. The test can not be substituted for the actual SAT but it does determine if the student can be a national merit scholar or a national commended scholar depending on how well they did on the test. According to Mrs. Poe in the Student…

Searching for greener grass

By Jordan Thompson Staff Writer This generation is racing to grow up. Almost any kid in high school, if asked, will easily tell you what it is they are trying to escape from. The top of the food chain has become a crowded place. Going back in time sounds like the perfect solution to students who feel defeated by standardized tests and GPAs. Unfortunately, every generation seems better when it is a part of history, despite its hulking walls that had to be overcome. “Students have become obsessed with their college choice as opposed to if they can actually afford it,” AP teacher Kevin Casey said. Casey attended South Grand Prairie High School, which at…

College acceptance turns to rejection

By Sarah Police Staff Writer This past weekend, I was doing my homework like a good student when I came across the English homework that I was supposed to annotate. What I found in this article was shocking. I, and every other senior, am not done; done with school, that is. I’ve done the work for 12 years and have applied and been accepted into several schools. But I’m still not done. I did not know that once colleges accept me they can take back their acceptance letter if I do not maintain my grades. This sent me into a slight panic mode; I did not even know that they could eradicate your acceptance! So…

Useful SAT strategies for Saturday’s test

Many CHS students will be attending local schools this Saturday morning to take the SAT in hopes of scoring big for future plans in college. While some students who go in “blind” for the tests, meaning no prior knowledge or tutoring, the majority, including myself have been planning and studying religiously for the big day. Below I have listed my top 5 strategies for the SAT test: 1. Get a good nights rest and have a healthy breakfast in the morning. This will help fuel your effort while taking the test and ensures that you will not zone out while testing. 2. Be relaxed and confident during your test day. 3. Pace is apparent! Don’t…

Faking for the funds

By Dyer Whitt Staff Writer On Tuesday, a federal judge in Austin sentenced Solomon Hobbs Jr. to nearly five years in prison. On top of the sentence, Hobbs must repay the $37,000 he stole in student loans. Hobbs, also know as Virgil Clinton Powell, stole the identity of a college student in order to obtain money from a college loan. Investigators told the press that Hobbs primarily targeted the University of Texas at its Tyler, El Paso and Arlington locations. Hobbs also used another person’s name for student loans at Midwestern State University and Texas State University. The crime has provoked officials to look into the accessibility of obtaining a student loan and to possibly…

Dual sides of dual credit

Tanner McCord Staff Writer The dual credit program at Coppell provides numerous opportunities for students, whether it is knocking out college credits early or trying to free up some time in their schedule, dual credit has something for any type of student. Dual credit serves for college credit and allows students to have some extra time in their day. It provides an opportunity for students to continue on a Pre-AP schedule during junior year where the predominant number of your class options have a happy medium between regular and AP in the dual credit system. “I did dual credit because I didn’t want to do AP U.S. History, but I also didn’t want to do…

Volleyball players prepare to compete at next level

By Chris Reagan Staff Writer The Coppell Cowgirls volleyball team has been outstanding this year with three verbal commitments to universities, two of which are top 25 schools in NCAA rankings. Junior middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu has decided to take her talents to the University of California-Berkeley. California is currently a top five school in the nation despite having a young team. “I decided on them because they’re not just a good volleyball school, they also have good academics,” Ogbogu said. “I wanted to go where I could win a championship and get educated.” Chiaka has been on varsity since her sophomore year and is known by her teammates as a gifted player. “She has…

ACT scores highlight benefits of alternative exam

By Michelle Pitcher Editor-in-Chief I have been advised, on several occasions, to take the ACT. Many seniors and CHS graduates seem to think that if the SAT is our downfall, the ACT is our saving grace. Based on the recent publication of scores for CISD, they may just be right. Since 2007, the average score for the ACT has risen over six percent in CISD, a dynamic contrast to the static state levels. In addition, 30% more CHS students took the test in 2011 than had in 2010. As word spreads of the widespread success on this exam, more CHS students are looking into this alternative testing option. The main difference between the two tests is…

College fish

By Dyer Whitt Staff Writer With the school year fully underway, college freshman embark on the journey of living on their own; managing time, money and responsibility. Most of us can remember our first day of high school; nervous, anxious and a little bit awkward, being a freshman, or “fish.” Being a freshman meant having three grades above you to tell you what and what not to do, teachers always on your back, and stereotyped a helpless baby. Unfortunately, high school is not your last time to be a “fish” in a plentiful sea of students. Upon graduating, many CHS students will choose to move on to college, where they will plummet from being the…