COPPERAS COVE – Two student councils in Copperas Cove have earned statewide recognition this year.

The Texas Elementary Principals & Supervisors Association announced that the student councils at Fairview/Jewell Elementary and Martin Walker Elementary received TEPSA’s Student Leadership Awards, recognizing the work these groups do outside of the classroom to improve the school community. 

“I am very proud of these two student groups for embodying everything it means to be a Bulldawg,” said Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins. “These groups work tirelessly to serve everybody in their school community, whether that’s their peers or the staff on their campus. They do this through service projects, fundraisers for community organizations and so many other ways, and this recognition is just the first for their work to bring the campus community together.”

Fairview/Jewell Elementary earned the award on the heels of the campus earning the award for sustained excellence from the Youth Environmental Ambassadors! program, also winning the Pull Together to Make a Difference competition, where they recycled pull tabs from aluminum cans to support Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“This honor reflects the dedication, compassion and leadership our students have demonstrated throughout the year through their many service projects and contributions to our campus and community,” Fairview/Jewell Principal Dr. Rebekah Shuck said. “Our students have worked hard to make a positive impact, and they take great pride in representing our school as leaders. This recognition is a testament to the culture of leadership, service, and student voice that we strive to build every day at our campus.”

Martin Walker Elementary (pictured at top) earned this award after the campus was recognized by the YEA! program for sustained excellence in sustainability on the campus.

“This award means a lot to our students because it shows their hard work is paying off,” Martin Walker Principal Kelly Thompson said. “They’re proud to represent our school, give back to their community and they truly see themselves as future leaders. It’s so rewarding to watch them step up, go the extra mile and feel good about the difference they’re making.”

These two CCISD campuses were among only 167 from across the state to earn this recognition in the 2025-26 school year, with more than 1,000 public school districts in Texas.

The TEPSA Student Leadership Awards were launched in 2018 to honor outstanding student leadership teams for their positive impact on the school communities across Texas. Groups which earn recognition meet high standards and create real, lasting impact in their communities.