Students with congressman John Carter

TEMPLE – A Copperas Cove High School student was named a Top-10 student in the area in Career & Technical Education.

CCHS senior Shane Farmer was a finalist in the award from Congressman John Carter’s office and recognized at a banquet in Temple for the Texas 31st congressional district, which includes Bosque, Burnet, Coryell, Hamilton and parts of Bell and Williamson counties. The TX 31 Career & Technical Education High School Awards recognize outstanding students in the area for their work in CTE courses.

“All the nominees had very interesting and intricate specialties,” Farmer said. “I found the ceremony very impressionable and it inspired me to go further in my work.”

Farmer, a student in both the Engineering and Culinary Arts programs, was one of seven students from Copperas Cove HS to be recognized at the congressman’s banquet.

“Although he did not place in the top three, it was great to have one of our students as a finalist,” CCHS CTE coordinator Sandra Perry said. “We’re proud of our students and look forward to continuing to build our CTE program to ensure we’re preparing students in Copperas Cove for life after high school.”

Other students in attendance at Congressman Carter’s awards banquet were Riley Yunitis from the Construction Trades program and Daisha Cain from Culinary Arts.

“It was an honor to be thought of and nominated for the CTE award,” Cain said. “The experience was exemplary and I got the chance to meet many wonderful people, including U.S. Representative John Carter.”

Copperas Cove High School offers students more than 30 Industry Based Certifications through its various CTE programs. In 2023, students were awarded more than 400 total IBCs.

In October, the CTE program in CCISD received Torch Workforce Education Impact Award from Workforce Solutions of Central Texas for its efforts in CTE. Three active students at CCHS graduated in December with industry certifications from Central Texas College, with two more in May.