Elite Red Hatters award three $1,000 scholarships

By BRITTANY FHOLER

Cove Leader-Press

The Elite Red Hatters of Copperas Cove awarded $1,000 scholarships to three Copperas Cove High School seniors Saturday morning at Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant. 

The Elite Red Hatters are the Copperas Cove chapter of the Red Hat Society, an international social organization founded in 1998, originally for women age 50 and up. 

Members ages 50 and over are called “Red Hatters” and wear red hats and purple attire to all functions, while the members under the age of 50 are known as “Pink Hatters” and wear pink hats and lavender or lilac attire. 

“We’re a social group, but we didn’t want to just be social alone,” said Martha Jackson, leader of the Elite Red Hatters. “We wanted to help the kids in our neighborhood to go to school, so we decided to be a non-profit Red Hatters. We are the only non-profit Red Hatters around.”

The Elite Red Hatters typically hold a Red, White and Blue Fundraiser every year in September, on Fort Hood to raise funds for their scholarship. Due to the pandemic, the group was unable to hold the fundraiser, but Jackson said she instead went directly to the 19 members of the club and asked for $50 each to help raise funds for the scholarship. 

Local community businesses and members of the community chipped in as well to raise enough money for the three scholarships. Jackson said she received $1,000 from the Fort Hood Thrift Shop this year as well. 

Jackson said the Elite Red Hatters have been giving away scholarships for five years, and the group also normally provides a donation to the Copperas Cove Education Foundation. 

When the Elite Red Hatters first began giving away scholarships, the amount was only for $500 but Jackson said that they have grown that amount over the years. 

Requirements to apply for the scholarship included being a CCISD student, maintaining a 3.0 GPA, having a family member who is a member of the Red Hat Society and the submission of an essay. This year’s essay prompt was about how the pandemic affected the student or someone they know. 

This year’s recipients are Emma Miller, AriShaun Chappell and Breyana Robinson. Miller and Chappell were present to receive their certificate on Saturday. 

Miller said that she was connected to the Red Hat Society through her great-grandmother on her mother’s side. 

“She always talked about it, and she always had the red hats and the purple stuff in her closet.” Miller said.

Miller plans to attend the University of Mary Hardin Baylor to pursue a degree in nursing. Miller said she first wanted to go into the field of forensic nursing and get certified as a SANE nurse (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) but her relationship with God grew stronger and she felt called to go into travel nursing and do mission work. 

“I’ve always liked to travel, but I just want to help others,” Miller said. 

Miller has been the class president since her sophomore year, was the Student Council president her senior year, vice president her junior year. She also is a member of HOSA and has her CNA certification and is testing to become a certified Pharmacy Technician as well. She also participated in UIL Spelling previously. 

“It means a lot,” Miller said about the scholarship. “I’m really lucky to have all of the opportunities that I’ve been given,” Miller said. “I’m really excited.” 

Miller said she was so appreciative of the help that she received in finding scholarships, like this one, through UIL coordinator Amal Baty. 

Jackson was moved to tears on the impact that these scholarships are making with the three high school girls. 

“It means a lot,” Jackson said. “It’s very touching to me because in my time I didn’t have this chance, so they have a chance that I didn’t have.”

Jackson said she was glad to be able to help out her community.