Jamie Copeland is a senior at Cedar Park Christian Schools’ Mountlake Terrace campus. She is a basketball player, ASB president, cheerleader and, of course, a Lion. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Jamie Copeland is a senior at Cedar Park Christian Schools’ Mountlake Terrace campus. She is a basketball player, ASB president, cheerleader and, of course, a Lion. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Cedar Park Christian senior stepping up to new challenges

Jamie Copeland’s academics include STEM studies, leadership, ASB activities, honor society.

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Jamie Copeland, who lives in Snohomish, is a senior at Cedar Park Christian Schools’ Mountlake Terrace campus. The ASB president still tries new things, such as cheerleading this year, and pulls a 4.0 in a demanding honors and STEM program.

Question: You are the president of the Associated Student Body. What are you working on?

Answer: At the moment we have homecoming. Our school doesn’t have a football team. So basketball is our big sport. So we do our homecoming court and our homecoming in January, so we’ve been planning for that.

Q: What drew you to leadership?

A: The people I saw in leadership were kind of who I was striving to be. Like when I was in eighth grade and I was looking up at the seniors, I thought those people are really setting a good example. I wanted to do that myself. So I stepped up and got involved. It was a great way to get involved in school, too, and that’s something I’ve really enjoyed in high school.

Q: Why is it important?

A: Especially at this school because it’s such a small school, by being involved I’ve been able to help others, myself included, to find more friends and just have greater relationships with people. And also as the leader now … to go out more to people who don’t have a place and include them.

Q: What else are you involved in?

A: I’m on our (National Honor Society); I’m the vice president of service this year. I’m in cheer right now. I’ve done volleyball, basketball, track and field. And I’m in our STEM program right now. Actually me and the other person in it are going to be the two first who will be graduating with the STEM diploma.

Q: What is the STEM diploma?

A: So it’s science, technology, engineering and math. It’s a separate diploma, so you have to do different requirements, electives and classes. So I’ve taken computer science. I’m in engineering design now. I’ve taken video game design, web design. It also requires you to take four years of math and science, which also goes along with our honors program that I’m in as well.

Q: Why was this something you wanted to pursue?

A: I think probably just the higher diploma. I like math but I’m not a huge science person. But our engineering design class I enjoy quite a bit more than I thought I would. … I think I just wanted to figure out something I’d be good at, because I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do for college.

Q: What are your plans?

A: At this point I’m waiting for acceptance letters. … I’ve considered possibly doing elementary education or physician’s assistant or physical therapy, but I haven’t narrowed down on one. I kind of just want to do something where I can help people. With elementary kids, I feel like that’s a really vital time of their life where you can pour into them, and I love kids.

Q: Do you have any teachers you look up to?

A: There are so many mentors that have poured into my life and they really care about us here. I think that one that has been like my best friend is our teacher Mrs. (Ann) Gillis. She was my eighth-grade through sophomore year math teacher and she’s also the ASB adviser. So she’s taught me a lot. She’s a really good teacher, but on a personal level she also knows me so well. I’ll sometimes go in her office and we’ll just talk for an hour. She’s one of the sweetest people I’ve met in my entire life.

Q: This is your first year doing cheer?

A: All other years I played basketball. We went to state last year. … I just decided I wanted to go out with that as my last memory of basketball. Our boys team is supposed to be really good this year. So I decided to stay in the basketball realm and join something new. We went in blind, and it’s been so much fun so far.

Q: You’re also involved in your church?

A: I love going there and just spending time there. It’s been so much fun. I’ve gotten such close relationships with the people there. I just came back from a mission trip in July to El Salvador. It was just awesome.

Q: What does it feel like to be at this stage?

A: There’s a lot of different emotions that you feel. I feel the stress of “oh my gosh, I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life.” … I’m in that stage where I’m like I don’t really want to leave high school yet, but I’m also a little bit ready to go and just experience something new.

Melissa Slager: mslager@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3432.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, delivers the annual state of the city address Thursday morning in the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center in Everett, Washington on March 31, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
At Everett mayor’s keynote speech: $35 entry, Boeing sponsorship

The city won’t make any money from the event, city spokesperson Simone Tarver said. Still, it’s part of a trend making open government advocates wary.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.