CCISD graduating seniors attend Baccalaureate Service

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press

Graduating from high school is a huge stepping stone on the path to who and what one will become.
To honor that accomplishment, Copperas Cove High School graduates could attend the Class of 2018 Baccalaureate Service Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Lea Ledger Auditorium. 
Speakers encouraged the graduating class to listen for the Lord’s guidance and to follow him, to never give up on their dreams, and to chose wisely the people they let into their lives.
Brandon Rex Sanders, a CCHS alumni from the class of 1995, was the guest speaker for the event.
Sanders is an actor, director, and producer. He has acted in various roles including roles in “Green Lantern” and “True Grit”. He also started Captain Rex International Ministries and travels the world bringing the gospel to those he meets.
Sanders told the graduating seniors that every single one of them has a story, and they can choose their new paths.
“The world is open to you,” said Sanders. “Find assurance and peace in knowing that no matter what you chose, you are never alone in your journey.”
Sanders talked about how everybody is going somewhere, but very few of those people are going somewhere on purpose. He encouraged the audience to listen to what God is telling you and to find the gift that He has placed inside of them.
“Become all that God wants you to be,” said Sanders. “You’re not born a winner, and you’re not born a loser. You’re born a chooser. Every single one of you has the potential to be a winner, but every single one of you has the potential to be a loser. It’s the choices that you make that determine whether you win or lose. God created you to win. Don’t chose to lose.”
Many of the students appreciated Sanders’ message, and the message of the other speakers.
“I really liked it a lot…I’m really glad that I came,” said Victoria Hanson about the baccalaureate service. Hanson has earned three scholarships and plans on studying business at UMHB. “It was a really great opportunity. I thought [Sanders] was really good. He should be a motivational speaker.”
CCISD Superintendent Joseph Burns offered a blessing to the graduates. He encouraged them to anchor themselves in Christ and Christ alone. He bestowed a blessing upon them to find a job they love, a home filled with people that love them, joy and fun in their life, and more. He encouraged them to listen always to the voice of God. There will be many others in their life that might try to distract them from their path, but he asked that they always choose to follow the voice of the Lord.
Many of the seniors are looking forward to life after high school. 
“It’s nerve-wracking, but it’s also super exciting at the same time…It’s a new life,” said Addison Cook about her upcoming graduation. “I’ll miss my friends and my teachers for sure.”
Cook will be graduating in the top 10 percent of her class with a GPA of 3.9. Cook was active in school playing a variety of sports including softball with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She was also voted Prom Queen. After she graduates, Cook plans to study nutrition in college to get a career as either a dietician for a hospital or a sports team. She plans to begin by attending Blinn College and then A&M.