COPPERAS COVE – Copperas Cove ISD’s dual credit & early college program has officially seen its largest class of graduates, yet.
At Central Texas College’s recent Spring 2026 commencement ceremony, 58 graduates were students from Copperas Cove High School earning one or more associate degrees, or an industry certification to help set them up for an exciting career after high school.
“Our dual credit program is such a difference maker for our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins. “These students have taken an enormous step in their future by finishing their associate degrees as high school students. I could not be prouder of them for showing what it means to be a Bulldawg, and I can’t wait to see everything these outstanding students are able to accomplish in their lives thanks to the head start they’ve earned here.”
Through the CCISD Dual Credit program, these 58 graduates have saved, as a group, $435,000 on their college education. The latest group of graduates marks 65 students from CCHS who, this year, earned associate degrees, industry certifications, or both from Central Texas College through the program. That’s in addition to 67 in the previous two years.
Courtney Addy graduated from CTC with associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“I feel very accomplished,” Addy said. “It’s like I killed two birds with one stone by getting both my high school diploma and associate degree. In college, I will have more time to study classes that are related to my major because a lot of my core classes are out of the way.”
Addy will graduate from Copperas Cove High School next week, after which she will attend Texas A&M University to pursue a degree in chemical engineering.
Hillary Adjei earned associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This is very rewarding,” Adjei said. “This will allow me to spend less time in college after high school. My goal was to get my associate degree and I accomplished that.”
Elias Alvarado graduated Friday with a robotics certification.
“My goal was to get the certification and get classes done for an associate degree,” Alvarado said. “This will help me get a job, a higher initial position and, possibly, better pay. I feel that I have achieved my goal.”
After graduating from CCHS next week, Alvarado plans to work before finishing his associate degree and joining his field of choice.
Riya Amin walked the stage Friday with associate degrees in general and interdisciplinary studies.
“This is very rewarding,” Amin said. “It will put me ahead and allow me to get through college faster.”
Trinity Aulabaugh earned a pair of associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This is one of the most rewarding things I have done,” Aulabaugh said. “All of this hard work has paid off in a way I never imagined would happen this early in life. This has reduced the number of in-person college classes I will take for my education after high school, cut my tuition costs and advance me to junior status when I enter Tarleton State in the fall.”
Aulabaugh plans to attend Tarleton State University after graduating from CCHS next week, where she will major in animal science with a Pre-Vet focus.
Jhada Bailey earned her associate degree in general studies.
“It is very rewarding, because this is not something I ever thought I would accomplish. It feels surreal,” Bailey said. “This will give me a head start for college, not only subject-wise but also work-wise. I have learned how to cope on a college campus, and I have adapted to the difficulty of the courses compared to my high school classes.”
Bailey plans to earn her CMA certification after graduating from high school before attending Texas State University to pursue a nursing degree.
Robert Baker earned his robotics certification from CTC on Friday.
“This is very rewarding and will help me get jobs in this industry,” Baker said.
After graduating from Cove in May, Baker plans to attend Tarleton State University.
Ashari Benjamin finished associate degrees in general and interdisciplinary studies.
“This is something I never thought I’d be able to manage in high school,” Benjamin said. “My goal was just to earn some college credits to not have to spend more money than I need to on college. This achievement will allow me to better work on getting my bachelor’s degree for teaching in the future.”
Benjamin graduates from CCHS next week and plans to pursue a career as an elementary teacher.
Krish Bhakta earned a pair of associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This achievement is very rewarding,” Bhakta said. “This will allow me to pursue two bachelor’s degrees in a four-year span. It also allows me to explore more of my interests in college while not being overwhelmed.”
Bhakta plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering, as well as a bachelor’s degree through the UT Plan II Honors program.
Madison Bogard graduated from CTC Friday with an associate degree in general studies.
“This is extremely rewarding, as it’s giving me an extra boost for college,” Bogard said. “This will allow me to attend college and, essentially, skip the first two years to go straight into earning my bachelor’s degree.”
After graduating from CCHS this month, Bogard plans to study health science in college.
Kylie Boldman walked the stage with a pair of associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“Graduating with an associate degree will help me after high school by reducing the time I need to spend in college,” Boldman said. “My goal was to take a few dual-credit classes to get college work out of the way and save money. I achieved this goal, as I took more classes than expected and saved thousands of dollars.”
After graduating from Cove in May, Boldman plans to attend Tarleton State University to study biology.
Breanna Buckram finished her associate degree in general studies.
“This achievement is very rewarding, it shows the hard work and dedication I put in during the school year in order to attain my goals,” Buckram said. “This will allow me to spend less time in school and focus on my real estate career.”
After graduating from CCHS this month, Buckram plans to get her real estate license and become a realtor.
Malachi Burvato graduated with an associate degree in general studies.
Abryanna Caldwell earned an associate degree in general studies.
Ryan Cartwright graduated with two associate degrees, one in general studies and another in interdisciplinary studies.
“This achievement is very rewarding,” Cartwright said. “My initial goal was to earn my associate degree and I feel that I achieved that. Now, I can join the military at a higher rank.”
Cartwright plans to enlist in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from CCHS next week.
Renyce Chavez earned a pair of associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“I feel as though the time went by so fast since I first started taking dual-credit classes,” Chavez said. “Having my associate degree after high school will help me to not have to take core classes and allow me to have a year of school already done. This will be a big step for me and allow me to start nursing school sooner.”
Chavez plans to attend college to pursue a nursing degree after CCHS graduation next week, with the goal of becoming a registered nurse.
Coleton Cooper earned associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This achievement is extremely rewarding,” Cooper said. “This will allow me to earn a bachelor’s degree in half the time, saving both time and money pursing higher education.”
After graduating from high school next week, Cooper plans to attend Texas State University to pursue a degree in criminal justice.
Makayla Davis completed associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
Miracle Dorsey finished associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
Alyssa Eade graduated with associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This is pretty rewarding, since it will allow me to kickstart my college career,” Eade said. “It will help me be able to skip basic education classes, since I already have the credit for it. I feel accomplished and proud for following through with the coursework.”
After graduating from Copperas Cove HS next week, Eade plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin to pursue a career in speech language pathology.
Zoey Eyler walked the stage Friday with associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This will set me ahead in college and allow me to focus on my major, entirely,” Eyler said. “When I first started taking dual-credit courses, my goal was to save money and time in college by knocking out these basics. I feel like I’ve achieved this.”
Eyler plans to pursue a graphic design degree after graduating from CCHS this spring.
Payton Faber earned an associate degree in general studies.
“This achievement is very rewarding,” Faber said. “I achieved my goal to get my associate degree when I first started dual-credit classes, and this will help me with my future.”
Christina Fileccia finished her associate degree in general studies.
“When I first started taking dual-credit courses, I did not fully realize that it meant that I could graduate from high school with a college degree alongside my diploma,” Fileccia said. “I was a mere incoming freshman hoping to get as far ahead as I could. But, now that I have achieved this goal, I feel that all of the time and work that I have poured into meeting this goal has become completely worth it, and I feel I achieved my goal alongside so many more than I thought were possible.”
After graduating from CCHS next week, Fileccia plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin.
Edrianna Florexil graduated with associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“It feels very rewarding,” Florexil said. “I have worked toward this since 9th grade. It helped me get a step ahead and I’ll graduate from college faster.”
After graduating from CCHS, Florexil plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree and advance to medical school.
Makayla Gonzalez was the youngest graduate at Central Texas College’s Spring commencement ceremony, earning her college degree at 15 years old. She earned a pair of associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“I’m very fortunate to have been able to participate in this program,” Gonzalez said. “I’m going to have most of my bachelor’s done before I graduate, reducing my future college debts and allowing me to pursue my career sooner in life. It’s taught me time-management skills, as well as responsibility and how to set realistic expectations for myself.”
Gonzalez is an 11th-grade student who will return to CCHS next year.
Lucas Hall finished a pair of associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
Christian Harrell completed an associate degree in general studies.
Kaedin Heimbuck graduated with an associate degree in general studies.
“This has been a very rewarding experience that will get me ready for the real world,” Heimbuck said. “When I started taking dual-credit classes, my goal was to get as many classes done as possible. After looking back, I feel like I did more than just a couple classes completed. It will help me understand what college classes look like and make college cheaper.”
Heimbuck plans to attend Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi after graduating from CCHS next week to study kinesiology.
Aubrey Hinton earned associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“Balancing dual-credit classes with dance, work, and everything else in my life wasn’t easy, but it pushed me to grow and become more responsible,” Hinton said. “Being able to graduate with college credits already completed makes me feel proud of myself and excited for what’s next.”
After graduating from high school next week, Hinton plans to attend college to pursue a career in social media management in sports.
Camron Holt graduated from CTC with associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
Heidi Hudson graduated with an associate degree in general studies.
Kelsey Jaramillo earned a pair of associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This is extremely rewarding,” Jaramillo said. “This will help me with getting my prerequisites and help me with getting jobs. When I first started, my goal was to see how far I can push myself without giving up as well as seeing if I could get an associate degree, and I did achieve my goal. I worked as hard as I could have and now, I’ve graduated with two associate degrees.”
After graduating from Cove next week, Jaramillo plans to attend UTSA to study psychology.
Nevah Letterman earned both a robotics certification and an associate degree in general studies.
Presley Lowery graduated from CTC with an associate degree in general studies.
“I have worked so hard and to see it finally pay off is so surreal,” Lowery said. “This will get me ahead in college credits. Thanks to the dual credit program and Mrs. [Jodie] Jost and Mrs. [Amber] Gonzales, I will be graduating from university two years early.”
After CCHS graduation next week, Lowery plans to attend Texas State University and study education to pursue a career as an elementary school teacher.
Elijah Lynn earned an associate degree in general studies.
“This helps me have more options after high school, like getting a job or going to college,” Lynn said. “It also builds skills and experience that will make things easier in the future. Overall, it sets me up for more opportunities.”
After graduating from high school, Lynn plans to attend Trinity University and play football.
Jacoby Martinez graduated with an associate degree in general studies.
Algenis Mateo earned a pair of associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This is my biggest achievement, yet,” Mateo said. “This will lessen the time needed in college. At first, my goal was to try this opportunity and, now, here I am with an associate degree.”
After graduating from CCHS, Mateo plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering before joining the U.S. Military.
Re’mari Miller graduated with associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This achievement is extremely rewarding,” Miller said. “This will help me achieve my bachelor’s degree quicker. I hope students considering dual-credit courses know they just need to stay focused and keep up with their due dates to be successful.”
After graduating from CCHS in May, Miller plans to enlist in the U.S. Military.
Taylor Moosman graduated from CTC with associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“Not many people have the chance to graduate from college before they graduate from high school,” Moosman said. “This achievement opens many doors and allows for many opportunities that I would not have otherwise. I have completed the basic college credits, thus, this allows me to take more courses and gain more knowledge in my chosen degree in the future.”
Moosman is an 11th-grade student who will graduate from Copperas Cove High School in 2027.
Lily Moris graduated with associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This is very rewarding, as it will allow me to focus on my career path for the next four years,” Moris said. “This will give me college experience while also allowing me to have a less stressful time in university, because I will be able to focus on things I enjoy.”
Moris graduates from CCHS next week, then she plans to attend Biola University in California to study film.
Jose Olivencia-Vargas graduated with associated degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
Ruhi Patel graduated with associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This is very rewarding, I’ve learned so much,” Patel said. “It will help me be ready for college life, help me graduate earlier and help me get a job faster. If someone is considering dual-credit classes, I think they should know it is a privilege and that they should stay on top of their assignments.”
Patel is the senior class Salutatorian. She plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin after graduating from high school to study computer science.
Chloe Pinckney earned associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“I am, honestly, so proud,” Pinckney said. “Starting out, I never thought this achievement would be as great as it is. Pushing myself this hard has given me so much confidence to do even better.”
After graduation from CCHS next week, Pinckney plans to attend college and participate in ROTC. Then, after earning her bachelor’s degree, she plans to join the U.S. Navy.
Camila Ramos Afanador graduated with an associate degree in general studies.
“It is a blessing to be able to earn this along with my diploma,” Ramos Afanador said. “With this achievement, I will have knocked out more than half of my pre-requisites for nursing. When I started, my goal was to finish strong and get this degree by any means necessary, and I feel I achieved that.”
After graduating later this month, Ramos Afanador plans to attend UTSA to pursue a degree in nursing.
Malia Rdiall graduated with two associate degrees, one in general studies and another in interdisciplinary studies.
“I am very proud of myself, and I feel very lucky to have been given this opportunity,” Rdiall said. “It will allow me to pursue higher education both quicker and cheaper because I took all the Texas Core Curriculum at a discounted rate in high school. I started just wanting to see what college would be like and I achieved way more than I thought I would.”
After graduating from CCHS this month, Rdiall plans to return to CTC to finish an associate degree in nursing.
Daishnelys Rivera-Butler graduated with associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This is extremely rewarding,” Rivera-Butler said. “It will help me get ahead of my education by two years. My goal was originally to take a few classes, only, and I did more than that.”
Rivera-Butler plans to attend Texas A&M University after getting her CCHS diploma next week.
Victoria Rodriguez earned associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
John Screeton earned an associate degree in general studies from CTC.
Connor Sims graduated from CTC with associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“To me, this achievement is everything,” Sims said. “It represents my entire high school career and the hard work I put into my classes. This will help me prepare for university and get me prepared for what university might have in store for me.”
Sims is an 11th-grade student who will graduate from CCHS in 2027.
Micah Smith earned associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
Diane Tantiangco graduated with a pair of associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“I feel very proud and accomplished,” Tantiangco said. “My goal was to get my associate degree when I started dual-credit classes, and I hope this will shorten the amount of time I am in a four-year university.”
Tantiangco graduates from CCHS this month and plans to attend the University of Texas at Arlington afterward to study biochemistry.
Micayla Taylor walked the stage with an associate degree in general studies.
“This degree will help me get a head start in my major by allowing me to complete many of my prerequisites early,” Taylor said. “By finishing these courses ahead of time, I will be better prepared for more advanced classes and able to focus more on my major in the future. Overall, this achievement means a lot to me because it reflects both my effort and my ability to succeed under pressure.”
After graduating from CCHS next week, plans to complete her associate degree in nursing before joining the U.S. Military to work in the medical field.
Amber Valentine earned a pair of associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This achievement is going to further me in my life in ways I never thought were possible,” Valentine said. “This will allow me to start my career earlier and be ahead of my peers when I attend a four-year university and be able to graduate early from college. I loved taking dual credit and the doors it was able to open for me.”
After graduating from CCHS in May, Valentine plans to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., to pursue a degree in leisure studies and a career in the sports entertainment industry.
Aizea Vahai graduated with associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“It is pretty rewarding to achieve this,” Vahai said. “My goal was to get a boost in my GPA and give myself a more challenging class. I feel like I have achieved that.”
After graduating this month, Vahai plans to enlist in the U.S. Space Force and study mechanical engineering at the University of Alaska-Anchorage.
Ke’lel Viltz earned an associate degree in general studies from CTC.
Lydia Wagner graduated from CTC with two associate degrees, one in general studies and another in interdisciplinary studies.
“This is incredibly rewarding, I’m so glad I was able to achieve this,” Wagner said. “It will let me focus more on the classes that lead to my degree in college.”
After high school graduation, Wagner plans to attend the University of North Texas to study business.
Tahir Wingo earned an associate degree in general studies.
“This achievement is highly rewarding and saves me lots of time when I eventually go to a four-year college,” Wingo said. “It will help me save money and time for myself for when I go to a four-year college.”
Wingo graduates from CCHS next week and plans to attend Texas Tech University to pursue an environmental engineering degree.
Jacquel X graduated with associate degrees in general studies and interdisciplinary studies.
“This is super rewarding,” X said. “It will shorten my bachelor’s degree journey. If someone is considering dual-credit classes, I would tell them to take their grades seriously and get ahead as much as they can.”
After graduating from high school, X plans to attend Texas A&M University and study early childhood education.